A walk to remember
This new gadget is helping
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6
Volume 43 Issue 14
Health-care dilemma
Experts debate Klein’s ‘Third Way:
Morality without borders
Irshad Manji says rights violations
aren't acceptable anywhere.
10
i
Marco 17, 2006
By Bev Betkowski
http://www.ualberta.ca/folio
Study explores Canada’s ghost towns
Approximately 10,000 communities have faded away since the 1840s
University of Alberta researcher is peer-
ing into the past to discover why hun-
dreds of communities in rural Canada fell
by the wayside, and what can be learned
from their quiet demise.
Dr. Debra Davidson, a professor of
environmental sociology at the University
of Alberta, launched a national study
three years ago to find out what factors
led to lack of sustainability for Canada’s
estimated 10,000 ‘ghost towns’ - commu-
nities dating back to the 1840s that simply
faded away.
The project started as an exploratory
venture but has grown into a full-fledged
study expected to wrap up in 2008. “We
had a sense of frustration in regards to
where current research on the topic of
sustainability is headed these days,” said
Davidson. Instead of focusing merely
on existing communities, she felt it was
important to study ones that have already
collapsed.
“We tend to think of ghost towns as
a historic phenomenon and that’s not the
case. Communities are collapsing all the
time.”
In Alberta for instance, while the
northern half of the province flourishes
thanks to the booming gas and oil indus-
try, parts of southern Alberta tell a dif-
ferent story, Davidson said. “We’ve got
dozens of smaller, older agriculture-based
communities that have been seeing rapid
declines in populations sitting at under
1,000 people and the average age is 50-
plus. There are communities in southern
Alberta I would be surprised to see sur-
vive over the next 10 years.”
All of the provinces have vulnerable
areas, and the number of ghost towns
across Canada - some of which lasted less
than 10 years - is distributed fairly evenly,
she added.
To get at the cause and find ways to
improve viability of rural communities,
Davidson and her team have just begun
to analyze Canada Post data. Because
there is no existing national list of ghost
towns, Davidson and her team are trac-
ing them through past post offices.
“Most communities couldn’t viably exist
without certain things - a school, small
businesses, a post office. Of the possible
measures we could have used, Canada
gas station in Gem, Alberta.
Post keeps a complete record.”
Those communities are then loaded
into a Geographic Information Systems
computer mapping program, and by using
various spatial analysis, the researchers
can gauge what factors night have played
a role in eventual obsolescence: distance
from the nearest railroad spur, soil con-
ditions, weather patterns, distance to
market. Other historical factors associated
with political and economic change are
also considered. The study will then select
10 abandoned communities from each
province that represent different indus-
tries, and conduct case studies.
Interesting findings have already
emerged. Between Canada’s beginnings as
a country in 1840 and 1911, few communi-
ties died, but between 1912 and 1918 there
was a dramatic increase, peaking in 1914
when 791 communities were abandoned.
In total, 3,088 communities across Canada
died during this seven-year period. A
similar peak was identified around 1970,
which is likely attributable to increas-
ing automation in agriculture, so fewer
labourers were needed.
“These peaks indicate it’s not a ran-
dom process, which would also suggest
that community sustainability can’t just
be determined by environmental factors.
There are likely major political or eco-
nomic events contributing to community
abandonment,” Davidson said.
The research is also showing that
most communities died within 60 years,
suggesting that “if a community can just
make it beyond that third generation, it
will have staying power.”
The communities most at risk today
appear to be those that are remote, and
those with the least amount of economic
diversification. “Climate change is another
looming issue for rural communities,”
Davidson said. Increased weather vari-
ability, which affects crop harvests and
forestry industries, may have economic
and health impacts. Regional differences
may also play a role.
“Do communities in Ontario get
quicker political attention than commu-
nities in Alberta? Does NAFTA have an
ned
effect? Is there a combination of factors
that determines community viability?”
asked Davidson.
On a broader level, the issue goes past
rural communities to Canadian society at
large, she said. “Looking at the viability of
rural communities serves as an indicator
of the broader health of society. We can
learn about the sustainability of our social
system for all of us by identifying critical
thresholds beyond which societal collapse
is most likely to occur - rural communities
are Our canaries, you could say.”
While many sources of information
will be used to improve understanding of
these critical thresholds of community col-
lapse, nothing can replace the first-hand
accounts of former residents and their
descendants, Davidson added. Anyone
who would like to share a bit of their own
community history can send their account
to Davidson at debra.davidson@afhe.ual-
berta.ca.
The research is supported by the
National Centres of Excellence Sustainable
Forest Management Network. &
woo'xidumoysoybmmm yo Asauno2) Aysnyoeg aiuuyor
(
Steacie Fellowships support physics and chemistry research
Dr. Todd Lowary and Dr. Andrzej Czarnecki have earned the presitigious NSERC prize
By ExpressNews Staff
wo University of Alberta professors have
been awarded 2006 Steacie Fellowships,
one of Canada’s top science and engineer-
ing research prizes.
Drs. Todd Lowary, with the
Department of Chemistry, and Andrzej
Czarnecki, with the Department of Physics,
are two of six Steacie recipients announced
by the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada in Ottawa
today. The award brings the number of
Steacie Fellowship holders at the U of A to
11, second-highest in the country and the
highest ranking in the West.
The fellowships allow Lowary and
Czarnecki two years to conduct research
full-time. Lowary’s research is aimed at
developing new drugs for the treatment of
tuberculosis (TB) or vaccines for the pre-
vention of the disease; Czarnecki’s research
Express News.
U of A news
every weekday...
on the Web...
www.ualberta.ca/ExpressNews/
folio
Volume 43 Number 14
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
(EXTERNAL RELATIONS)
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
6TH FLOOR GENERAL SERVICES BUILDING
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA,
EDMONTON, ALBERTA T6G 2H1
RICHARD CAIRNEY: Editor
CAITLIN CRAWSHAW: Managing Editor
GEOFF MCMASTER: Assistant Editor
CONTRIBUTORS:
Bev Betkowski, Melissa Boisvert, Ileiren Byles,
Caitlin Crawshaw, Dawn Ford, Amber Marechal,
Srdja Pavlovic, Mari Sasano, Ryan Smith,
Cynthia Strawson, Zoltan Varadi
GRAPHIC DESIGN:
Marcey Andrews, Penny Snell
Folio's mandate is to serve as a credible news source
for the university community by communicating
accurate and timely information about issues,
programs, people and events and by serving as a
forum for discussion and debate.
Folio is published 20 times per year.
The editor reserves the right to limit, select, edit and
position submitted copy and advertisements. Views
expressed in Folio do not necessarily reflect university
policy. Folio contents may be printed with
acknowledgement.
Inquiries
Comments and letters should be directed to Richard
Cairney, editor, 492-0439
richard.cairney@ualberta.ca
Display Advertising
Deadline: Thursday 3 p.m. one week prior to publication
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Enter events online at
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ISSN 0015-5764 Copyright 2006
[a] UNIVERSITY OF
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The University of Alberta maintains a database of all
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the U of A, including Folio and New Trail, invitations
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examines the nature and strength of sub-
atomic interactions, leading to a more com-
plete understanding of the physical world.
“Our present understanding of the sub-
atomic world is based on the quantum field
theory (QFT). It is a theory of great beauty
and rich structure,” said Czarnecki. “It is
fascinating that this complex mathematical
construction can be used to predict detailed
properties of elementary particles.”
Czarnecki and his colleagues have, for
example, computed the magnetic field of
the muon to more than 10 decimal places
—a calculation that challenges the com-
pleteness of the Standard Model of particle
physics. “My dream is that the compari-
sons of the theory with ever-more precise
experiments, will eventually reveal new
fundamental phenomena,” said Czarnecki,
admitting that working out the detailed
predictions of the QFT “is somewhat
tricky.”
His group has also created computer
infrastructure to develop algorithms and
software enabling them to study different
phenomena at the highest precision pos-
sible. “It’s exciting to look at things with
greater detail than has ever been possible
before.”
Lowary’s research into treatments for
Tuberculosis comes from a concern with
the disease’s devastating global impact and
an interest in the bacterium itself.
“My interest in the TB problem was in
part due to the importance of the disease,
and also due to the unusual structures of
the molecules that make up the cell wall in
this organism. What I enjoy about the area
I work in is the ability to make both funda-
mental and applied contributions.”
Lowary is a member of the Alberta
Ingenuity Centre for Carbohydrate Science,
a research group that has created a critical
mass of Canadian talent in this strategic
field. His group applies some of the latest
techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance
Trading spaces
Dr. Andrzej Czarnecki (left) and Dr. Todd Lowary will spend the next two years focusing exclusively on their
research endeavours.
spectroscopy, chemical synthesis and com-
putational chemistry to examine the shape
of polysaccharides that make up the cell
wall of the tuberculosis bacterium.
Soon he will begin collaborating
with experts from the National Research
Council’s U of A-based National Institute
for Nanotechnology, taking advantage of
their state-of-the-art equipment. He and
his group hope to identify the structural
motifs that are key to the formation of the
protective structure of the tuberculosis
bacterium’s cell wall.
“I’m still in the ‘disbelief’ stage,”
Lowary said of the award. “It’s quite an
honour. I’m looking forward to being able
to focus on research over the next two
years. The Steacie Fellowship will fund a
Staffer, arts dean switch jobs for a day
By Melissa Boisvert
very fundamental basic science project in
my group, which complements a number
of the more applied projects ongoing in the
lab.”
The Department of Chemistry has
earned six Steacie Fellowships over the
years. Czarnecki pointed out that his is
the third Steacie Fellowship awarded to
the Department of Physics. The first was
awarded to retired professor Dr. Mohsen
Razavy in 1966, the second year the fellow-
ships were offered. At that time, only one
fellowship was awarded each year. More
recently, Dr. Mark Freeman earned the fel-
lowship, in 1999.
“He is a friend and mentor to a lot of
us here,” Czarnecki said of Freeman. “I am
proud to be following in his steps.” @
University of Alberta office manager has
discovered that life at the top isn’t all it’s
cut out to be.
Long-time U of A employee Barb
Heagle won the opportunity to be ‘dean
for a day’ in a silent auction held in con-
junction with the Faculty of Arts’ Winter
Solstice event in December.
“I saw this as a wonderful opportunity
to build a bridge between academics and
non-academics,” said Heagle.
For a $180 donation to the United Way
and the Edmonton Christmas Bureau,
she was given the chance to trade her
job as an office manager in the Office of
Interdisciplinary Studies for a brief view
from the top.
The deciding bid was a relief to Dean
of Arts Dr. Daniel Woolf.
“My biggest worry was that a pro-
fessor would win and I would have to
teach a class on Mexican anthropology or
advanced German literature,” he said.
On March 6, both participants expected
a busy and challenging day. Heagle began
her morning by leading the meeting of
the Dean’s Advisory Council, where col-
leagues in the Dean’s Office offered input
to the faculty’s academic plan. Next on the
agenda, she met with numerous staff mem-
bers, who kept her on her toes from start
to finish. Just to make sure her day wasn’t
too easy, the staff in the Dean’s office threw
in a few requests for raises and created a
couple of “crises” to test Heagle’s mettle.
Woolf enjoyed a quieter day, poring
over academic plan submissions from
various programs within the Office of
Interdisciplinary Studies and assisting
Barb Heagle
Dean of Arts
At the end of the day, Barb Heagle decided her own job was pretty darned good.
staff members with questions. Although
he couldn’t answer every query, he forged
on confidently, armed with Heagle’s three
essentials: files, a to-do list, and a big bottle
of Tylenol.
Both realized that many aspects of
their positions are, in fact, very similar—
the need for a strong and reliable team to
keep them informed, ongoing challenges
(especially in regards to space constraints
and limited staffing resources) and the
difficulty in finding time for individual
projects.
The main difference, both participants
found, seems to be a simple one: the size
of their staff support team. In many cases,
University of Alberta & folio March 17, 2006
Heagle needs to be more ‘hands on’ with
projects and issues, simply because of the
small number of staff in her area. Woolf,
on the other hand, has more staff to man-
age. Consequently, he must be an expert in
delegation in addition to his many other
responsibilities.
In the true spirit of academia, both
participants ended their days by offering
their perspectives on lessons learned. Dean
Woolf mused that “administration is a bit
like an iceberg — you see little bits above
the surface, but there is a lot more below.”
Heagle’s conclusion was much simpler.
“I found out that my job is pretty
good.” m
SAD1Aag BAL}RaI)
ansiog essay
Third way or wrong way?
Experts examine the Klein government's vision for health care
By Zoltan Varadi
basic medical procedure could have
saved the young woman from a lifetime
of pain — unfortunately she didn’t have
health insurance. By the end of her ordeal
she was permanently disfigured.
It’s just one of “hundreds” of stories
University of Alberta nursing professor
Dr. Donna Wilson says she witnessed as a
nurse in Texas in the 1980s.
The patient in question had recently
lost her job and smashed her jaw dur-
ing a car accident. In Canada, treating
this woman would have been simple,
said Wilson. After wiring her jaw, doctors
would have kept her in the hospital a few
days to ensure her breathing was normal.
“A very simple operation,” said Wilson.
“But, what happened down in the U.S.,
what they did for her, was put a Band-Aid
on her chin and watched her for a couple
days to make sure she didn’t choke to
death on the teeth that were falling down
the back of her throat.
“I saw this woman about a month later,
and her chin was about under her ear. It
had been pushed over. This was a young
woman about the age of 25. [She] literally
probably wouldn’t have been able to eat a
cheeseburger, her face was so disfigured.”
A tale as terrible as this could very well
become a reality for Albertans, warned
Wilson, if the Klein government gets its.
way—the ‘Third Way’ that is. This new sys-
tem would combine elements of both the
public and private sectors, the Tories claim,
in order to manage rising health-care costs
and minimize wait times for procedures.
The plan has yet to be formally present-
ed in the legislature, but the government
has released a proposal outlining its 10
tenets: 1. Putting patients at the centre; 2.
Promoting flexibility in scope of practice of
health professionals; 3. Implementing new
compensation models; 4. Strengthening
inter-regional collaboration; 5. Reshaping
the role of hospitals; 6. Establishing param-
eters for publicly funded health services; 7.
Creating long-term sustainability and flex-
ible funding options; 8. Expanding system
capacity; 9. Paying for choice and access
while protecting the public system and 10.
Deriving economic benefits from health
services and research.
Wilson said that a common miscon-
ception of the American system is that
it’s completely privatized. It’s not. Rather,
much like the.Third Way — which Wilson
says is in clear violation of the Canada
Health Act — it is a blend of the corporate
and government sectors.
“If we get into a public system that’
does the absolute minimum, it looks like
home care could become a ‘frill,’ ” she
said. Even nursing homes, major surger-
ies, emergency care and “almost anything
could be seen as an extra, as they some-
times are in the U.S.
“It we moved our public system into
a private-public parallel model we would
run into exactly the same problems they
have down there.”
Dr. John Church, a professor at the U
of A’s Centre for the Health Promotion
Studies, is inclined to agree.
“Most visits to a physician’s office are
non-emergency; most elective procedures
are non-emergency,” he said. “So, if they
stop funding all of those things, and they
push that off to private insuranice compa-
nies or to individuals who can’t get private
insurance, then the answer is yes, that will
fundamentally change our health-care sys-
tem. It will bring us much closer to a sys-
tem like they have in the United States.”
Health economist Dr. David Feeny said
Albertans are right to question whether the
”
plan is right for the province.
“People are well-informed and appro-
priately skeptical,” he said, adding that
while he is opposed to the overall plan, it
has two very distinct elements which he
evaluates differently.
“They’ve got two horses: the first five
points and the last five points, and they
should get off the last five points and onto
the other one and ride it: If they deliver on
those five points, I think they will go down
in history as another major step forward in
improving the system,” he said.
But while the first five points, may have
some merit, he notes that the principles
alone aren’t guaranteed to‘improve the
health-care system. “The devil is in the
details,” said Feeny.
Both Wilson and Church take issue
with allowing doctors to practice both in
the private and public sectors, which will
allow patients with cash to jump the queue
for procedures. Both say such a system is
rife with potential for abuse.
“When you've got private health care
and private doctors, they want to sell it,
because you will buy it,” said Wilson.
A patient complaining to a doctor about
a stomach-ache might be suffering constipa-
tion, she added, but could be sent for a CAT
scan and even unnecessary exploratory sur-
gery in the quest for extra billing.
“You see, with a for-profit motive, they
do far too many surgeries,” she said, allud-
ing to her experience‘in the U.S. “They do
far too many diagnostic tests and part of
that is because they’re selling health care.”
Church added that the privatization
model has been tried elsewhere and failed,
notably in Britain under the Thatcher
government. Among his concerns are phy-
“When you've got private
health care and private
doctors, they want to sell it,
because you will buy it”
— Dr. Donna Wilson
sicians who would be inclined to spend
more time on the private end of things
than the public side, and potential conflicts
of interest arising from doctors referring
public patients to the same physician’s pri-
vate practice.
“In the States, they’ve had to pass all
kinds of rules for what is called in the
literature as ‘physician self-referral,’” he
said. “Physicians might refer a patient to a
service in which they have a financial inter-
est. For example, a physician might own
a diagnostic and testing centre which they
send their patients to; tests which may or
may not be necessary. The problem is that
because the physician owns the diagnostic
centre, there is an incentive to send people
over there to drum up business.”
Neither Wilson or Church deny that
issues of sustainability in the current
health-care system need to be addressed
~ particularly givenian aging populace, the
potential for pandemics, and advancing
technology driving up expenditures.
“Health care is the big-ticket item in all
provincial budgets, the dollar amount has
been creeping up no matter what we do
simply because we have a changing demo-
graphic,” said Church.
University of Alberta & folio March 17, 2006
“While we want a publicly funded pro-
gram, we must decide as a society if every
time the medical profession comes up with
some new life-saving procedure we are
automatically going to cover it just because
they've figured it out. Or do we need some
way to figure out what's going to be cov-
ered and what will not?”
Wilson believes that, at least as far as
advancing technology goes, if it’s used
wisely, it could be the means for great sav-
ings. She says the way to make health care
more sustainable lies in health education
or disease prevention programs, which can
help nip a disease in the bud.
“Most of the new technologies have
been a godsend,” she said. “They have
made health care cheaper and cheaper.”
Wilson and Church agree that more
discussion is needed with greater input
from the public, and the medical commu-
nity. And neither sees the Third Way as the
right way for Albertans.
“The Ralph Klein way is to just say, ‘Well,
we're going to privatize it,’ ” said Church.
“Politicians are avoiding the conversa-
tion which needs to take place. If we don’t
have this conversation then we are going to
drift into what the government of Alberta
is now proposing.”
And given public uproar, Feeny won-
ders if the proposal will come to fruition.
“It's going to take real political acumen
and clout to make this work. I think the
government is missing a golden opportu-
nity to produce a substantial legacy that
will be applauded and imitated by other
provinces in Canada, rather than spending
political energy on these issues — introduc-
ing private insurance and having physi-
cians be able to bill in both systems.” @
Climate change drives expansion
of forestry protection research
Two leading scientists join the Forest Management Research Team
By Cynthia Strawson
limate change in Alberta may affect for-
ests faster than trees can adapt to evolv-
ing conditions.
“We need a science-based review of
management practices,” said Dr. John
Spence, head of University of Alberta’s
Department of Renewable Resources.
“Unless we adapt current practices to the
new realities of climate change, wildlife,
biodiversity and forest-industry invest-
ments might be at risk.”
Spence’s concerns are the inspiration
for expanding his Forest Management
Research Team through the appointment of
two new scientists, Dr. Andreas Hamann,
a forest geneticist and expert on climate
change, and Dr. Mel Tyree, one of the
world’s leading experts on tree-water rela-
tions.
According to Hamann, who comes to
the U of A from the University of British
Columbia, the mild winter of 2005-2006
could become the norm within 40 years.
“As the climate changes, our landscape
will change too. Drought-related dieback
of trees, increase of forest fires and pest
outbreaks such as the mountain pine beetle
epidemic in British Columbia will pro-
foundly impact our forest and grassland
ecosystems in Alberta.”
He explained the need to have solid
science to support innovative forestry and
environmental conservation policies and
practices that will be needed in the future.
“Within a few decades our current strate-
gies for conservation and reforestation
simply won’t work. To maintain healthy
and productive ecosystems, we will have
to start moving species to new locations as
part of our reforestation and conservation
programs.”
Tyree is the second recent addition
to the team. Tyree, who comes to the
University of Alberta from the United
States Forest Service and has won Marcus
Wallenberg Prize for scientific achievement
“Unless we adapt current practices to the
new realities of climate change, wildlife,
biodiversity and forest-industry
investments might be at risk”
— Dr. John Spence
in forestry, will focus on how stresses will
impact forests in the next 100 years.
“Change is stressful for people as well
as trees but, unlike humans, trees are slow
to adapt to change,” said Tyree.
Climate change in Alberta may result in
more frequent summer droughts and more
frequent autumn and spring days with
freeze-thaw cycles: both predictions are
stressful for trees. Tyree started his studies
of tree stress physiology 25 years ago by
listening to sounds made by trees.
“Trees are thirsty,” he said. “As water
evaporates from a tree’s leaves, it has to
pull new water up from its roots. It pulls so
hard that the water actually forms a strand.
If it’s really thirsty and can’t get enough
water during a drought, those strands will
be under so much tension that they will
break, making a snapping sound.”
The sound is inaudible to the human
ear but Tyree has recorded it using spe-
cialized digital recording technology. “If
we slow the sound down digitally we can
actually hear the snapping sounds. It sort
of sounds like calypso drums.”
This snapping of the water strand can
lead to serious setbacks for trees not well
adapted to drought.
Twenty-five years of research by Tyree
has shown that trees which are good at
transporting water are the most produc-
tive trees but are also the most vulnerable
to the stresses induced by drought and
frequent freeze-thaw cycles. There is a deli-
forestry research at the U of A.
cate balance between water transportation
and production of wood. “Over millions of
years trees have adapted a wood structure
to adapt to the stresses thrown at them, but
the current acceleration of climate change
might be too fast for trees to adapt by natu-
ral selection and migration,” he said.
The task for the new researchers will be
to identify which trees (species and indi-
viduals) have developed the best balance
between maximum growth and maximum
tolerance to drought and the freeze-thaw
conditions. They need to identify which is
the best wood structure to provide a tree
with the qualities of efficient water trans-
portation and wood production, while at
the same time allowing the tree to survive
Ici
Forest geneticist Dr. Andreas Hamann (left) and tree-water relations expert Dr.
7
el Tyree are contributing to
and adapt in our changing climate.
“In the future we should be able to look
under a microscope at the wood structure
of a one-year-old tree seedling and know
whether it will grow well and be resistant
to the stresses of drought,” said Tyree.
There is potential for trees better
adapted to new climate conditions, to grow
to full size in 25 years instead of 80 years.
There is also potential to plant these trees
on land that has already been cleared for
agriculture but doesn’t grow agricultural
crops well. “If we can capitalize on mar-
ginal farm land, while reseeding our exist-
ing woodlands with appropriately selected
trees, we can help to preserve the wildlife
and plants of our native forests.”
Stir that manure — it’s better for the environment
Researcher discovers that turning manure reduces methane emissions
By Beverly Betkowski
ith manure being one of the culprits
linked to global warming, it might
seem wisest to let sleeping piles of it lie...
but not according to University of Alberta
research.
After carefully studying two test piles
of beef feedlot manure in Lethbridge, U of
A researcher Gurpreet Singh discovered
that fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emis-
sions were actually generated by turn-
ing the waste, rather than letting it sit
untouched.
“It’s a very common farming practice
to let the manure sit. Huge piles of it will
sit for five or six months, but it should be
turned in the shape of windrows to facili-
tate aerobic conditions in the pile,” said
Singh, who completed his master’s thesis
on the project in December, 2005.
Currently, agri-wastes are considered
the fourth largest source of GHG emis-
sions in Canada, but most of Alberta’s farm
community does not include composting
as part of its manure management, Singh
said. At present, GHG emission reductions
are of little economic consequence to pro-
ducers because of the initial high invest-
ment required to buy machinery involved
in maintaining aerobic conditions, and
annual operating and labour costs involved
in turning the compost pile.
Singh, during his research at the
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
research facility in Lethbridge, established
two 50-tonne piles of manure which were
left to sit for three months, the approximate
Gurpreet Singh in his ‘laboratory:
length of time it takes for the organic waste
to decompose. One of the piles, spread in
a windrow shape for aeration and easy
turning, was turned four times in the first
month and bi-weekly in the second month.
The other pile was never touched and was
kept unturned throughout the composting
period.
“The results showed there were sig-
nificantly higher methane emissions from
manure stockpile (static) as compared to
compost (turned) pile, however no signifi-
cant differences were found in the carbon
dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions in the
two piles,” Singh said. In terms of total
GHG emissions during three months of
composting, the turned manure pile of
manure generated almost a third less emis-
sions than the static pile.
In addition, manure that has been
properly composted creates a better-tex-
tured product that is easier to spread on
the fields than stockpiled manure. “It’s a
uniform product that can be spread very
quickly and with minimum hassle.”
As well, the composted product also
has lower water content, which means it
is also lighter to spread, and that saves on
fuel costs, Singh noted.
A drawback to the active composting
management of the manure pile is cost of
turning equipment - a tractor-operated
attachment that is about $25,000, Singh
estimated. But he believes large beef feed-
University of Alberta e folio March 17, 2006
“It's a very common farming practice to let
the manure sit. Huge piles of it will sit for
five or six months, but it should be turned
in the shape of windrows to facilitate
aerobic conditions in the pile.’
— Gurpreet Singh
lot operators could afford the expense, and
the benefits are significant. The direct and
indirect benefits associated with apply-
ing composted manure might contribute
to improved profitability as a result of
reduced volume, less fuel combustion in
spreading and better aggregate structure of
the final composted product.
“From the perspective of climate
change, manure management has a signifi-
cant impact. Farmers are not encouraged to
adopt this composting due to the costs of
machinery involved, but if Canada wants
to reduce GHG emissions under the agree-
ment of Kyoto Protocol, composting of
livestock waste might be one of the alterna-
tives.”
Singh’s research was conducted in col-
laboration with the Agriculture and Agri-
Food Canada Research Centre, Lethbridge,
and Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural
Development. @
uosmens eiyquAy
Religion is no excuse for human rights violations: activist
Irshad Manji urges westerners to fight for rights in all cultures
By Ileiren Byles
esterners will have to get over their
fear of being called racist if they’re
going to have any positive impact on
global human rights, says one of Canada’s
foremost activists and authors.
“Yes, you will be called racist from
time to time. Get used to it,” journalist and
author Irshad Manji told a standing-room-
only crowd at the University of Alberta’s
Tory lecture hall on March 3. “Remind
them that more Muslims have been tor-
tured, raped, imprisoned and killed at the
hands of Muslims than at the hands of any
foreign power. Muslims are the first vic-
tims of Muslims.”
Manji, who spoke as part of the U of
A’s Inside/Out speaker’s series, listed a
grim line-up of facts. “There are three ‘hon-
our kills’ daily in Pakistan. In moderate
Muslim countries women cannot legally
marry outside the faith. In Saudi Arabia,
women are the property of men, passed
down from father to husband to sons to
brothers,” she said. “In Iran, if a woman is
even suspected of lesbianism, she is draped
in a clean, pristine, white sheet, lowered
into a dirt pit and stoned alive.”
We can’t just say that because we’re
not part of Islam that we can’t advocate
for the dignity and rights of those who
are, said Manji.
“The challenge for us in the West is to
stop taking multiculturalism so literally,”
she said. “Let us, ladies and gentlemen,
rediscover our spines and our minds.”
Manji, however, is an unwavering
defender of her own Muslim faith.
“The Qur’an is not opposed to wom-
en's rights. Mysogonist interpretations of
the Qur’an are not inevitable,” she said.
“The Qur’an tells us there is no compul-
sion in religion. The Qur’an says there
will always be non-believers and it’s up
to God to deal with them. I don’t buy into
this rigid interpretation that’s passed off as
the Qur’an. My faith is secure enough to
handle questions.”
“The challenge for us in the West
is to stop taking multiculturalism
0 literally. Let us, ladies and
gentlemen, rediscover our spines
and our minds.”
— Irshad Manji
It’s her love for the truth she finds in
the Qur’an — a lost tradition of powerful
women and freedom of thought called
ijtihad (pronounced “ij-tee-had”). In the
early centuries of Islam, thanks to the
spirit of ijtihad, 135 schools of thought
thrived, which inspired Muslims to give
the world inventions from cough syrup
and the university to mocha coffee and
guitars, she said. “People like me are
reminding other Muslims that ijtihad is
endemic to Islam. I believe Islam is capa-
ble of pluralism.”
Manji said she understands that chal-
lenging Muslims to embrace a diversity of
interpretation and ideas is a big one.
“We're not simply asking people to
concede this idea, we’re challenging pride,
self-esteem and ego,” she said. “My own
identity as a faithful Muslim has been chal-
lenged, even vigorously attacked, but I’m
still fully confident in my faith.”
But when she was younger, she did
question her faith — as it was being taught
to her by the male head of her madressa.
So, she began to do her own reading and
research into the Qur’an.
“T didn’t get it. I didn’t buy into it. And
I asked myself, should I leave Islam as
many Muslims quietly do? Wait a minute
Writer-in-Residence program
Canadian authors recall their time at the U of A
By Mari Sasano
dmonton is the City of Champions — not
solely because of our sports teams, but
because of our rich cultural life, cobbled
together by pioneers who decided years
ago that home-grown talent is worth sup-
porting.
The University of Alberta’s Writer-in-
Residence program continues that tradition
today. The nine-month residency program
is the longest of its kind in Canada, and
marked its 30th birthday this month. The
festivities included a panel on March 10,
featuring four alumni of the program.
“It’s sort of unprecedented to have
so many writers back at the same time, a
real cross-section of writers over the past
three decades. It’s historically noteworthy
and Edmonton should take pride in it,”
said U of A English professor Dr. Christine
Wiesenthal, one of the organizers of the
celebrations.
Writers Tim Lilburn, Karen Solie, Di
Brandt and Kimmy Beach no longer write
in Edmonton, but all gave credit to the pro-
gram for pushing them as writers, and for
introducing them to a writing community
with which they maintain a connection.
Lilburn, a poet, spoke of the identity
question that faces western Canadian writ-
ers, asking questions that he saw as central
to writing in Edmonton or elsewhere in the
West: what is it to be a western Canadian?
Who are we? Where is here? What is our
relationship to the land?
As a young writer, he looked to three
Canadian works to answer those ques-
tions: Robert Kroetsch’s Seed Catalogue,
Andrew Suknaski’s Wood Mountain Poems
and Barry McKinnon’s I Wanted to Say
Something.
“The feeling I get is that these poems
go back to the old settler stories and try
and re-say these stories. I have a feeling
that these stories no longer work for us as
foundational, culture-shaping stories,” he
said. “So what’s next? I don’t know what’s
next.”
For Karen Solie, it is difficult to pin
down what it means to write from a spe-
cific place. Of her time in Edmonton, the
Toronto native recalled long walks in the
river valley and her fear of heights while
walking over the High Level Bridge,
“A lot of wandering around, punctu-
ated by moments of abject terror,” she said.
Brandt spoke highly of her time here.
“It saved my life,” she said. “I was
single-parenting two children on a free-
lance poet’s income while I was trying
to negotiate the fallout of my book while
doing a PhD.”
“T felt that I didn’t have to promise
anything or prove myself or show any-
thing,” she added, citing Edmonton’s inclu-
Openly gay, Muslim activist Irshad Manji spoke to a rapt audience at the U of A earlier this month about the
importance of standing up for human rights in all cultures and faiths - including Islam.
If she had been living in a Muslim
country instead of Canada during her
childhood, Manji said she suspects she’d
have abandoned Islam. “I would never
have learned these wonderful facts.
Freedom of information saved my faith in
Islam.” @
... is that the sound of Catholics quietly
nodding their heads?” she laughed. “But
why should my faith be punished for his
inferiority as a teacher — not as a human, as
a teacher? I learned I didn’t have to take a
back seat to any man to remain faithful to
my religion.”
celebrates 30 years
Dr. Christine Wiesenthal helped organize the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the Writer-in-Residence
program.
1995 — and Now You Care in 2003.
Other alumni of the Writer-in-
Residence program include Matt Cohen,
Gary Geddes, Marian Engel, Phyllis Webb
and David Adams Richards. &
sive writing community as one of her most
cherished memories.
After her time at the U of A, Brandt
went on to write Jerusalem, beloved — short-
listed for a Governor’s General’s award in
University of Alberta @ folio March 17, 2006
panddns
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Beer byproduct gives prof something sweet to chew on
Researcher hopes to create an artificial sweetener from distiller’s grains
By Bev Betkowski
eae at the University of Alberta
are working on a new process to make
sweetener from the grain products left over
from the beer-brewing process.
Dr. David Bressler is experimenting
with hemicellulose, a component found in
distiller’s grains such as wheat and barley.
By breaking it down into individual sug-
ars and fermenting those sugars, xylitol
— already on the market as a chemically
produced artificial sweetener — could be
made. Creating it from a natural source
like grain would be more beneficial than
the current manufacturing method, which
is primarily done in China through a
chemical process that is far less friendly to
the environment.
“There is a lot of chemical waste
byproduct,” said Bressler, a professor
of agricultural, food and nutritional
science at the U of A, who’s working
with researchers from the university’s
Department of Chemical Engineering and
the Department of Agricultural Food and
Nutritional Science.
Currently, the only use that’s been
found for distiller’s grains (the plant
fibre residue from which hemicellulose is
obtained) produced by the breweries and
refineries after ethanol production, is ani-
mal feed.
“It’s a decent animal feed, but there
“It’s a high-value product at the end of the day.
Youte taking something that is worth almost
nothing and producing something that's
worth a lot.”
— Dr. David Bressler
is almost no value of return to the brew-
ing and ethanol production industries.
Generally, the cost of transportation is all
they get out of it,” Bressler said. In addition,
the hemicellulose, which doesn’t add any
extra nutrients to the feed, isn’t being used
to its full capacity, even though it accounts
for up to 20 per cent of the distiller’s grains.
Converted into xylitol, which is prized
for its cooling flavour in products like
chewing gum, hemicellulose would get a
second, more beneficial life. “It’s a high-
value product at the end of the day. You're
taking something that is worth almost
nothing and producing something that’s
worth a lot.”
In their labs, Bressler and his research
colleagues are working with lactic acid bac-
teria to change the sugar in hemicellulose
to xylitol. Within three to five years, he
expects to have a successful food additive
that can be put into everything from diet
drinks to candy bars.
Gadget helps people with
spinal cord injuries regain mobility
Electrical device stimulates leg muscles to combat ‘foot drop’
By Caitlin Crawshaw
le last thing Edgar Jackson saw before
he hit the ground was a bent traffic sign
that had been thrown into the air by the
force of his motorcycle.
“T saw a flash of white, and a flash of
orange, and that was a signpost with a
curve marker on it breaking against my
front tire. Then it contacted my head at
approximately 80 kilometres an hour,”
he said of the 1998 accident that occurred
during a routine trip to Grimshaw from
Rainbow Lake, Alberta.
The subsequent spinal damage severely
limited Jackson’s mobility for years. He
could no longer walk without dragging his
leg, a condition known as ‘foot drop,’ and
required cumbersome leg braces. Then,
after volunteering for clinical trials of a
new medical device called the WalkAide,
Jackson said his life has changed for the
better.
“It’s given me my life back: my mobil-
ity, my independence. It’s indescribable. If
you can go from not walking to walking
— it’s quite an experience.”
The WalkAide System was 12 years in
the making but has now been approved
by the distribution in the U.S. and will
soon be available in Canada. Created at the
University of Alberta by a team led by Dr.
Richard Stein, the device uses light electri-
cal stimulation to re-train the muscles of
the leg and ankle to move properly.
“The way the WalkAide works, is that
it has built-in electronic stimulation which
activates some surface electrodes on the
skin, so it doesn’t need any implantation
or surgery,” said Stein, a professor in the
U of A’s department of physiology in the
Faculty of Medicine. “And the timing of
the stimulation is determined by a tilt cen-
sor. So when the leg tilts back, it turns the
stimulus on, and when the leg tilts for-
ward, it turns it off.”
The size of a walkman, the device is
easily worn underneath clothing “so it’s
inconspicuous and can be put on by some-
“It's given me my life back: my mobility,
my independence. It's indescribable.
If you can go from not walking to walking
- it’s quite an experience.’
— Edgar Jackson
body who’s had a stroke or other disorder
that may only leave the function of one
hand intact,” added Stein.
The common device prescribed to
patients with difficulty moving the foot
while walking is a plastic brace called an
ankle-foot orthosis, which keeps a foot
from falling at an incorrect angle. “That
stability will physically prevent the foot
from dropping, because it holds it in a
right-angle, but it has a number of disad-
vantages,” Stein said.
Not only do patients often need to wear
a large size of shoe on one foot to accom-
modate the brace, the brace can cause the
foot to get overheated and, most impor-
tantly, doesn’t allow the patient to strength-
en the muscles in the leg. The WalkAide,
on the other hand, stimulates the ankle and
allows the user to build up the muscles as
well as “the connections between the brain
and the muscles,” he added.
“The main difference from the conven-
tional device is that we're strengthening
the residual connections of the nerve and
muscle rather than preventing them from
having any function and allowing them
to atrophy over time,” said Stein. “Some
people after using the stimulator for a
period of time find that they don’t need it
anymore, they’ve built up the natural con-
nections.”
This research was supported by the
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical
Research’s ForeFront program, and_ brought
to market by Innovative Neutronics of
Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc.
w
<
3
_
®
a
Dr. David Bressler’s research aims to transform waste from the beer-brewing process into an
artificial sweetener.
A larger program, expanding on this
area of research, is being constructed
as part of the Institute for Food and
Agricultural Sciences, Alberta (IFASA),
in which the research partnership will
grow to include Alberta Agriculture, Food
and Rural Development and the Alberta
Research Council &
Edgar Jackson, who has found walking difficult after a motorcycle accident in 1998, says the WalkAide has
dramatically improved his mobility. For years he used an awkward plastic brace (pictured above) to walk even
short distances, but now a walkman-sized transmitter hidden beneath his pant leg allows him to walk longer
distances and strengthen his muscles.
University of Alberta 6] folio March 17, 2006
Lecturer examines ‘poisonous zombie swamp’ of Serb politics
Conspiracy theories helped Milosevic rule
By Ileiren Byles
arko Zivkovic said he still has mixed
feelings about the death of former
Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic on
Saturday.
“T haven't yet sorted out my emotions,”
said the guest lecturer from Oregon’s Reed
College. “But I found a couple of state-
ments on a website that I’d like to adopt.
The first is ‘We hope reincarnation doesn’t
work in his case,’ and the other is ‘Our
most insincere condolences.’”
Zivkovic spoke on March 13 at the
University of Alberta Department of
Anthropology’s speaker series. His interest
in Serbian politics has given him a unique
position as other former socialist states
begin to join the European Union.
“There is this rising anxiety among
those who find themselves labelled as post-
socialist experts as those heady days of tur-
moil and change are over. Even nostalgia
has already gone through a few cycles,” he
said. “But in Serbia, progress is shelved,
frozen while people still focus on the grand
melodrama issues of nationalism and war
crimes. Even though Slobodan Milosevic is
dead . . . Serbian politics are still a slushy,
poisonous, zombie swamp of eternal torpor
and rotting.”
Zivkovic, a social-cultural anthropolo-
gist, planned his presentation of Serbian
Garbled Genres: Conspiracy Theories and
Laments as “Poetics of Opacity” before
Milosevic’s death. Zivkovic examined
why, despite the “spectacular failures” of
Milosevic’s regime, the despot retained
popular public support - focusing on the
political role of conspiracy theories and the
‘lament’ as political commentary.
Conspiracy theories make up a found-
ing characteristic of the Serbian people,
which allows them to look outward for the
cause of suffering instead of to the people
running their country, Zivkovic said. He
related a story of grandmother who finally
made it to the front of a long line up for
e @
“Conspiracy theories work on several
levels. They’re almost a genre on their
own. They offer up a story about the
incomprehensible world forces that
claim to victimhood along with this
perverse sense of pride at being
singled out.”
— Marko Zivkovic
food during the hyperinflation period in
the early 1990s.
“The young man who was handing
out the food spoke to the granny, asking
her to remember the line when it was time
to vote again. ‘Oh, my son,’ she replied,
‘the Germans are to blame for this,’” said
Zivkovic. “That cabbage-clutching grand-
ma invokes a whole host of conspiracy
theories with that one statement. How do
we explain that Milosevic repeatedly wins
multi-party elections, despite the devastat-
ing effects of his rule - reduced standards
of living, multiple failed wars and the
reduction of his country to a pariah status?
The blame is shifted to the conspiracy of
Serbia’s enemies - the Vatican, Germany,
the New World Order. When the NATO
bombing began in 1999, it served as confir-
mation of the conspiracy.”
One of the major questions is whether
Milosevic deliberately used and manipu-
lated the spread of conspiracy theories to
create a paranoid atmosphere as a tool, or
whether he actually believed in the theories
himself.
“These two possibilities do not exclude
each other, and it’s hard to say which is the
most frightening,” said Zivkovic, who was
living in Serbia in the early 1990s.
sag uaiiayy
Marko Zivkovic, a professor at Oregon’s Reed College, gave a lecture at the U of A on the problems plaguing
Serbian politics.
By forcing his people to focus on the
bare bones of daily life, what Zivkovic
called “forced immersion in everyday life,”
Milosevic’s regime was able to further
manipulate public sentiment.
“When things are unstable and unpre-
dictable in everyday life, it directly affects
our general sense of well-being,” he said.
“You get these cycles of feverishness and
apathy, and the political effect is that gov-
ernments are elected by fever to rule with-
out challenge.
He pointed to the hyperinflation of
1992 and 1993, when inflation rates reached
an unbelievable 300-million per cent - or
two per cent every hour. “It’s hard to
describe. It’s disorienting. It’s feverish.
When you're running from empty store to
empty store holding onto money that turns
into worthless paper in minutes, you forget
what normal life was like. There’s no time
to challenge the regime.”
But that same willingness to embrace
victimhood and conspiracy theory means
that political progress is slow in Serbia,
whether Milosevic sits in power or not,
said Kivkovic.
“There was a brief euphoria, and then
that familiar slush, mist, of Serbian poli-
tics returned,” he said. “Conspiracy theo-
ries work on several levels. They’re almost
a genre on their own. They offer up a
story about the incomprehensible world
forces that claim to victimhood along
with this perverse sense of pride at being
singled out.” m
The Father of the Nation or the Butcher of Belgrade?
Milosevic’s death leaves too many issues unresolved
By Srdja Pavlovic
he passing of Slobodan Milosevic, the
former Serbian and Yugoslav presi-
dent, is a significant event indeed. It was
reported that he died at the United Nations
Detention Unit in Scheveningen (The
Hague, Netherlands).
Over the last 20 years or so, Milosevic
was called the father of the nation and the
leader of all Serbs, as well as the partner
for peace in the former Yugoslavia. He
was also called a tyrant, a dictator and the
Butcher of Belgrade. He died while being
tried for crimes against humanity, grave
breaches of the Geneva Convention and the
violations of the laws or customs of war.
Milosevic was the first president of any
country to be accused of crimes against
humanity and actually put on trial. The
outcome of this trial could have had a
significant impact on many levels and in
different areas. In terms of international
law and the indictment of political leaders,
this was the test case for the International
Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY). The outcome of this
trial could have been important for many
political leaders in terms of how they gov-
ern and apply policies. A potential convic-
tion could have had a tremendous impact
on Serbia and the collective psyche of its
population. By the same token, an acquit-
tal could have had similar effect. Keeping
in mind the fact that Milosevic managed
to abuse the legal system and consider-
ably bog down the process, a mistrial was
indeed a possibility.
His sudden death put the stop to all
this. His supporters could now claim that
the ICTY did not prove Milosevic’s guilt,
while the officials in The Hague could pon-
der over “what if” questions. His political
opponents could now call for bridging the
differences and embarking upon a new
political course. Those who were victims of
his policies will continue to live their lives
regretting the slow pace of international
justice. Many can breath a sigh of relief:
there will be no final answer to the ques-
tion of the political responsibility for the
dissolution for the SFR Yugoslavia, while
the threat of the potential collapse of the
case against Milosevic is removed once and
for all.
Concerns expressed by some analysts
about further and significant radicaliza-
tion of the Serbian political scene, as a
consequence of the passing of Milosevic,
seem misplaced. It is worth repeating
that Milosevic was neither the father of
the nation nor the creator of the Greater
Serbian nationalism. He was the product of
such nationalism: a cunning and calculat-
ing former communist apparatchik, who
used nationalism as a vehicle to acquire
power. With or without Milosevic, the
Serbian nation, as well as every nation in
that troubled corner of the world, has yet
to confront homegrown nationalisms.
What might change, however, is the
attitude toward the ICTY of those mod-
erate voices in the Serbian politics. The
death of Milosevic is an embarrassment
for the officials of the ICTY and those in
charge of the United Nations Detention
Unit in Scheveningen. It raises a number of
unpleasant questions such as those about
the quality of the medical care available in
this facility and the level of supervision of
detainees, for example. Just six days before
the guards discovered Milosevic’s lifeless
body, another high-profile prisoner com-
University of Alberta G@ folio March 17, 2006
mitted suicide. Milan Babic, the war-time
political leader of the Croatian Serbs, and
the former president of the self-declared
SAO Krajina, hanged himself in his cell.
After the passing of Milosevic under
the “watchful eye” of the tribunal officials
and prison guards, many ordinary Serbs
are growing increasingly suspicious of
the ICTY. For many of them a trip to The
Hague now sounds more like walking to
the gallows rather than presenting one’s
case before an impartial jury. It might be
even more difficult now to persuade and
pressure the government in Belgrade to
arrest two of the most famous alleged war
criminals, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko
Mladic. The international community
might be well advised to re-examine earlier
proposal about setting up war crimes tri-
bunal in Belgrade, so that the villains of the
Yugoslav wars could be tried at home.
(Dr. Srdja Pavlovic is an expert on the
Balkan histories and cultures, and on the
politics of the former SFR Yugoslavia. He
teaches in the Department of History and
Classics and can be reached at: srdjapav-
lovic@yahoo.com .) &
Dancing to a traditional beat
Faculty of Extension staffer has a passion for Romanian dance
By Amber Marechal
Meee Kliza’s new passion is her baby
girl, but that doesn’t mean she won’t
continue to indulge in her other true pas-
sion: Romanian folk dancing.
Originating from traditional Balkan
customs, Romanian dance holds a strong
appeal for Kliza, who’s always embraced
her heritage.
“I am of Romanian descent and the
Romanian culture has always been a huge
interest for me,” said the program assis-
tant for the University of Alberta’s English
Language Program (ELP).
Even from a young age, Kliza knew she
wanted dance to be a huge part of her life.
“I would see people perform and long
for the day I could join,” she said, referring
to membership in the adults-only Balada
Romanian Folk Dance Ensemble. Kliza’s
parents, in fact, helped start the dance
troupe in Edmonton, but wouldn’t allow
her to dance in the group until she was 15.
Since then, her life has been enriched
by her participation in the group.
It’s clear her passion runs deep. “I love
every aspect of it. I love learning; I love
practicing. I rarely miss a rehearsal because
I enjoy it so much.”
An avid member for 15 years, Kliza has
also been the president for the past five.
“It’s fun to be a dancer who just shows
up and dances, but it’s definitely a chal-
lenge to be someone who makes decisions
for the group and carries the group for-
ward in terms of progress and change,”
she said.
Romanian dance, said Kliza, is unique
in its variance from region to region.
“Depending on the region, you'll see
different types of footwork or formations.
It depends on the region of Romania where
it’s from; each region has its own charac-
teristics.”
And it’s not only the dancing itself that
she adores. Kliza said the close relation-
ships she’s developed with the members in
her dance group have also been rewarding.
“The friends that I’ve made in the
group, they’re like family. Because I was
15 and most of the group members were a
bit older, I was always the young kid that
everyone looked after, and that was always
something very special,” Kliza explained.
One example of that protective instinct
among older members came about at the
Heritage Festival in Edmonton in 1998.
“I was doing a duet with my part-
ner. At the end of the dance I had to run
around him to exit the stage, and I mis-
judged the depth of the stage, and I end
up sliding down the front of the stage. I
actually slid off and down the front it,” she
said.
“T basically ran back behind the stage
and had a quick costume change. But the
other dancers were saying ‘No Kristine, sit
down. You’re not going on again.’ I was
fine physically, but they were worried.”
Fortunately, not all of her dancing
experiences were so embarrassing. She
speaks passionately of her first trip to
Romania in 1992.
“The first time I performed in Romania
— it was amazing. I felt so in touch with my
family history and my roots.” She admit-
ted that she wasn’t sure what the reception
would be like.
“It’s unusual for them to see other
people doing Romanian dance outside of
their country. It’s not always — or often -
received warmly, but the particular crowd
we had at that time was very warm.”
In terms of the dance and technique,
Kliza said her skills have sharpened as the
years have passed. “It’s definitely easier
to catch on to things now, now that I’ve
learned the rhythms and the general foot-
work. The longer I’m involved, the stron-
ger my commitment.”
After four years working at the U of
A’s Faculty of Extension, Kliza is now on
maternity leave until January 2007. But
even though she has a new daughter and
new commitments in her life, she doesn’t
#
f
envision her involvement in the dance
group declining any time soon.
“Tl dance as long as I physically can
and as long as I’m in Edmonton. I'll always
be affiliated with the group. When I can no
longer dance, I intend to still be a member
and help the group thrive.” m
University of Alberta G& folio March 17, 2006
econ
-<eertnseneeetanettaamnin eRe tT
(Top) At the 2003 Edmonton Heritage Festival (Kliza
is fourth from the right).
(Middle) Kliza performs with Joseph Sumavra at the
2002 Edmontca Heritage Festival.
(Bottom) Kliza and her fellow dancers take a
breather to pose for a photo at the 2005 Edmonton
Heritage Festival.
The space between two knowledge systems
Aboriginal scholar Willie Ermine warns against a mono-cultural knowledge system
By Dawn Ford
space exists where there is refuge from
the undercurrents that divide nations,
according to a First Nations University of
Canada ethicist and researcher.
The heart of destructive undercurrents
exists in recurring viewpoints that portray
one model of society, such as the western
narrative, Willie Ermine told delegates
at the Indigenous Scholars’ Conference,
which took place March 8-10 at the
University of Alberta.
He referred to the story of the west
as an embedded consciousness that tran-
scends generations and institutions.
“The construction of western knowl-
edge has constructed our image. The story
of the west is what our children are getting.
The danger is that there is a mono-cultural
point of view about how humans are sup-
posed to be, and this does not create an
optimal condition,” he said. “This is not
God-given but indoctrinated into people.
They were not born with unethical behav-
iour; the system constructed it.”
Ermine’s work focuses on the ethical
practices of research involving indigenous
peoples, with particular interest in the ethi-
cal space, a term coined by Roger Poole
in 1972. For Ermine, this space creates a
contrast by dislocating and isolating two
disparate knowledge systems and cultures.
“There have been lots of good attempts
by sincere people who have tried to build
bridges, but these undercurrents are pow-
erful and keep washing away good inten-
tions,” said Ermine. “When we have had
breaches and ruptures in the past, it is
because we have failed to look at the area
in between our two worlds. It is in this
ethical space that we can understand one
another’s knowledge systems.”
Ermine referred to the grand institu-
tion of western learning as a place where
students become entrapped in one world
“The construction of westem knowledge
has constructed our image. The story of
the west is what our children are getting.
The danger is that there is a mono-cultural
point of view about how humans are
supposed to be, and this does not create
an optimal condition.’
— Willie Ermine
view. “The west needs to detach from this
world view to see what it is doing by pre-
senting a mono-cultural monopoly,” he
said.
He presented the two knowledge sys-
tems as alternate forces such as natural ver-
sus artificial contexts, oral tradition versus
written tradition, holistic versus a physical
world view and asked delegates to imagine
the possibilities if society could learn from
both.
“My grandparents knew how to get
medicine from a plant. They talked to the
plant, studied it. Our people knew how to
move and work with living entities that are
intelligent in nature,” he said. “It’s a gift to
walk in two worlds, but also a responsibil-
ity. Ethical space does not exist unless you
_ look at it, affirm it.”
Hosted by the U of A’s Department
of Educational Policy Studies, the
Indigenous Scholars’ Conference high-
lighted aboriginal and indigenous
scholarship, perspectives and research
approaches in advanced education across
Canada and internationally. @
Scholar Willie Ermine spoke at the University of Alberta’s Indigenous Scholars’ Conference this month.
meysmesy UIE)
New text brings First Nations history into the classroom
Historian creates first-ever aboriginal history textbook for teens
By Ileiren Byles
Fe the first time, the history of Canada’s
aboriginal people has been put into a
form that can be used in classrooms across
the country.
The new textbook, A Concise History
of Canada’s First Nations, was adapted
from a larger work by Dr. Olive Dickason,
professor emeritus with the University
of Alberta’s Department of History and
Classics. The original book, Canada’s First
Nations: A History of Founding Peoples from
Earliest Times, was a bit overwhelming
for junior high and high school classes,
said Nancy Gibson, former director of
the Canadian Circumpolar Institute and
co-principle investigator with the Alberta
ACADRE Network that partnered with
CCI Press on the project.
“This is a story that came about
because people in the community were
saying they really needed a history book,”
she said. “Olive’s was the only one that
was available, but we were asked if we
couldn't make it just a little more acces-
sible.”
With the help of a team of writers and
editors, the larger text was condensed
into a volume that was launched earlier
this month. But ‘condensed’ doesn’t mean
‘reduced,’ said Moira Calder, an edi-
tor with the U of A-based International
Institute for Qualitative Methodology.
“We didn’t want to dumb the book
down. We wanted to keep the subtlety and
depth of the material,” she said, crediting
Dickason for helping maintain the integrity
of the material. “Her analysis and dissec-
tion of every word in this book was an
education for me. I miss those conversa-
tions because I always came away richer.”
The book is published by Oxford
University Press. CCI Press at the
University of Alberta is a distributor.
Dickason, who celebrated her 86th
birthday in conjunction with the book
launch, said the project was an extension of
the passion she felt for the original book.
“Most of my adolescent and teen years,
I spent up North on the trap lines and you
learn a view of life that you certainly don’t
get in the cities and in the schools. When I
first met Canadian history, aboriginal his-
tory was just dismissed,” she said.
But Canadian history did teach
Dickason that the country’s European his-
tory began when whaling and the fur trade
attracted the interests of colonists - both
industries that were entirely dependent on
the First Nations.
“Whaling and fur trapping depended
very, very strongly on aboriginal expertise.
In fact, both are based on aboriginal exper-
tise,” she said. “This country. is deeply
founded and deeply linked with aborigi-
nals. When I realized that the courses being
taught didn’t refer to this at all, I got very
disturbed.”
Dickason single-mindedly attacked the
shortfall, writing The Myth of the Savage and
the Beginnings of French Colonialism in the
Americas, The Law of Nations and the New
World and Canada’s First Nations. That her
passion and knowledge is now in a form
that is accessible to young students is a
gift, said Fay Fletcher, a professor with the
U of A’s Faculty of Extension.
“It’s surprising how many students I
meet at the university who still lack know]-
edge of First Nations history,” Fletcher
said. “The hope is that in about five to
saykg uaa
Dr. Olive Dickason accepted the gift of an aboriginal blanket at the launch of her book, A Concise History of
Canada’s First Nations.
eight years, students will be coming to the
university having had some contact with
this text. Right now, we're filling a gap.”
Whoever turns to A Concise History
of Canada’s First Nations for informa-
tion, Dickason hopes her message comes
through.
University of Alberta 9] folio March 17, 2006
“I wanted this textbook to offer the
aboriginal people the recognition and hon-
our that is their due as the basic founders
of this country,” she said. “This is an atti-
tude I hope will be present in those who
are studying this subject and this book. #
Computer scientist sorts out confusable drug names
Program helps reduce prescription errors
By Ryan Smith
as that Xanex or Xanax? Or maybe
Zantac? If you’re a health care profes-
sional you'd better know the difference
- mistakes can be fatal.
An estimated 1.3 million people in the
United States alone are injured each year
from medication errors. The U.S. Federal
Drug Administration (FDA) has been work-
ing to reduce the possibilities of errors, such
as a documented case in which a patient
needed an injection of Narcan but received
Norcuron and went into cardiac arrest.
A few years ago, the FDA turned to
Project Performance Corporation (PPC),
a U.S. software company, to ensure they
don’t approve the names of new drugs that
may easily be confused with any one of the
more than 4,400 drugs that have already
been approved.
PPC looked at the problem and then,
based on a tip from a professor at the
University of Maryland, turned to Dr. Greg
Kondrak, a professor in the University of
Alberta Department of Computing Science.
“During my PhD research, I wrote a
program called ALINE for identifying simi-
lar-sounding words in the world’s languag-
es. The program incorporates techniques
developed in linguistics and bioinformat-
ics,” Kondrak said. “At the time some peo-
ple criticized it because they felt it wouldn’t
ever have a practical application.”
PPC analyzed Kondrak’s program
and felt it might help with their project.
Kondrak gave them ALINE and then cre-
ated a new program for them - BI SIM,
which analyzes and compares the spelling
of words.
PPC combined Kondrak’s programs
“When you do basic research sometimes
you don't know how it might become of
use, but if this software helps to reduce
even just 10 per cent of prescription
errors in the U.S. that translates into
helping a lot of people and it’s very
satisfying to contribute to that.”
— Dr. Greg Kondrak
into a system that the FDA has been using
for the past two years to analyze proposed
drug names and rank them in terms of
confusability, both phonetically and ortho-
graphically, with existing drugs.
“The FDA used to have dozens of
people scouring the lists of names to check
if the proposed ones were too similar to
any of them. This wasn’t a good use of
resources and it wasn’t always effective
- people make mistakes,” Kondrak said.
“But now one person using PPC’s system
can identify sound-alike and look-alike
drug names with great accuracy in a matter
of seconds.”
Drug companies covet finding good,
short drug names that are easy to remem-
ber, Kondrak said, adding, “the FDA and
other drug agencies need to balance this
against confusing the names with existing
ones - it’s a serious problem.”
Kondrak co-authored a paper on this
talks & events
Submit talks and events to Lorraine Neumayer by 12 p.m. Thursday one week prior to publication. Folio Talks and Events listings do not accept submissions via fax, mail, e-mail or phone. Please enter events you'd like to appear in
Folio and on ExpressNews at: http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/events/submit.cfm. A more comprehensive list of events is available online at www.events.ualberta.ca .
UNTIL APR 6 2006
Visit the University of Alberta’s Observatory
Every Thursday evening the observatory is open
to the public. Everybody is welcome and admis-
sion is free. Star clusters, planets, nebulae and the
Moon will be visible through our telescopes. We
are located on the roof of the Physics Building. Take
the elevators to the 6th floor and walk up the final
set of stairs. 8 p.m. Physics Building 7th floor and
rooftop. http://www.phys.ualberta.ca/research/
astro/observ.php
UNTIL MAR 22 2006
Indigo: African Adire Cloth Interpretation,
work by textile design students from the
Department of Human Ecology Opening
Reception: Friday, March 10, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Gallery
hours: 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m., Monday to Thursday; 8:30
a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. -12 p.m., Saturday.
Traditionally, indigo resist-dyed textiles played
important spiritual and social roles in the daily lives
of Africans. Textiles were markers of wealth, status,
and gender. The textile lengths featured in this
exhibition were designed and executed by textile
design students in the Department of Human
Ecology at the University of Alberta. Extension
Centre Gallery, 2nd Floor, University Extension
Centre, 8303-112 St. http://www.extension.ual-
berta.ca
UNTIL MAR 18 2006
Model Homes: Heather Huston Model Homes
by Heather Huston is the final visual presentation
for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking.
Join us for the Opening Reception on Thursday,
March 9, 7-10 p.m. Regular Gallery hours are
Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Saturday,
2-5 p.m. The Gallery is closed Sunday, Monday, and
statutory holidays. Fine Arts Building Gallery, room
1-1 Fine Arts Building, University of Alberta campus,
112 Street and 89 Avenue, Edmonton.
The Alcuin Awards for Excellence in
Book Design in Canada The Alcuin Awards for
Excellence in Book Design in Canada showcases
books published in 2004. Regular Gallery hours are
Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday,
2-5 p.m. The Gallery is closed Sunday, Monday, and
statutory holidays. Fine Arts Building Gallery, room
1-1 Fine Arts Building, University of Alberta campus,
112 Street and 89 Avenue, Edmonton.
MAR 17 2006
Department of Psychology’s 20th Annual
Joseph R. Royce Research Conference The Joseph
R. Royce Research Conference is a full day event
held each winter term during which faculty, post-
doctoral fellows, graduate, and undergraduate
students present papers and posters describing
current research activities. In addition to a keynote
speaker (David Uttal, Northwestern University)
there will be 16 oral presentations (divided among
4 sessions) and over 30 poster presentations.
Everyone is welcome. There is no registration
fee. This event is sponsored by the Department
of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science,
and the Office of the VP(Research) 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
BioSci Building CW410. http://www.psych.ualberta.
ca/~royce/
University Teaching Services (UTS) Talking
to the Media as if Teaching Matters In this age of
instant communication and mass media, it is essen-
tial to have some media relations basics at your
fingertips, from how to prepare for an interview
and get your message across to what to be on the
look out for during an interview. Tips on how to
incorporate the important connection between
your teaching and research are discussed. A media
relations specialist in Public Affairs will introduce
you to some of these basics and answer any nag-
ging media questions you may have. Presenter:
Sandra Halme, Public Affairs. 12 - 1 p.m. CAB 219.
http://www.ualberta.ca/~uts
Dear Employer - How do! write better work
search letters? Learn how to effectively write,
format and target cover letters, networking letters
and follow up letters. Find out how and when you
should use these letters in your work search. Free
of charge. Drop into CaPS office, 12:05 - 12:50 p.m.
2-100 SUB. http://www.ualberta.ca/caps
Curriculum & Pedagogy Institute Seminar:
Postcolonial Perspectives in Educational
Research Curriculum and Pedagogy Institute
Seminar Series presents: Engaging with the “Other”
through Postcolonial and Media Texts Presenters:
James Nahachewsky (PhD Candidate) and Jyoti
Mangat (PhD Candidate) Department of Secondary
Education All are welcome! Refreshments will be
topic that was recently published in the
journal Artificial Intelligence in Medicine.
Earlier, he gave a presentation to Health
Canada officials, who are interested in fol-
lowing the FDA’s lead in addressing the
problem of confusing drug names.
A number of linguists and computer
scientists are also now using Kondrak’s
ALINE for various purposes. He is pleased
his software, once criticized as being use-
less, is much in demand, though he doesn’t
charge anyone to use it.
“Tf anyone asks for it, I just give it to
provided. 2 p.m. 107 Education South Education
Centre . http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/educa-
tion//pdfs/CPInWinter2006rev.pdf
Making the Scene: la traduction du théatre
d’une langue officielle a l'autre au Canada
(Theatre translation from one official language
to the other in Canada) by Professor Louise
Ladouceur Scientific presentation of the book, 3
p.m, book launch, 4 p.m., followed by reception at
the Grand Salon Free admission. RSVP mona.liles@
ualberta.ca. 3 - 6 p.m. Campus Saint-Jean, room 1-
07, Pavillon Lacerte, 8406 - 91 St.
Alberta Ingenuity Media Master Class with
Jay Ingram Join Jay Ingram for an entertaining
master class on science in the media. Five selected
scientists will present their research as though they
were informing the public, and will be critiqued
by Jay and the audience. This event is open to all
members of the university research community. Jay
Dr. Greg Kondrak has created a system to help patients differentiate between drug names.
them. I was a funded researcher, and I look
at it as my responsibility to share what
I’ve learned and what I’ve done,” Kondrak
said. His research was funded by Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council
of Canada.
“When you do basic research some-
times you don’t know how it might
become of use, but if this software helps to
reduce even just 10 per cent of prescription
errors in the U.S. that translates into help-
ing a lot of people and it’s very satisfying
to contribute to that.” @
yywis ueky
Ingram is an eminent Canadian science journalist
and co-host of Daily Planet on Discovery Channel,
which he helped to establish ten years ago. He
was host of the CBC radio science show Quirks and
Quarks for 12 years, and has written nine popular
books on science. Registration is required. 3 - 5 p.m.
236 TELUS Centre for Professional Development.
http://www.albertaingenuity.ca/events.php
E.H. Strickland Memorial Lecture and
Banquet The Department of Biological Sciences
welcomes Dr. Ring T. Cardé, Chair of Entomology
at the University of California, Riverside and holder
of the endowed professorship the Alfred M. Boyce
Chair in Entomology, as this year’s Distinguished
Strickland Memorial Lecturer. Lecture “Finding
an Odour Source in a Turbulent World: Strategies
of Moths and Mosquitoes” takes place at 3 p.m.
in Room 3-27, Earth Sciences Building. Banquet
takes place at the Faculty Club at 6 p.m. Contact
Dr. Heather Proctor at hproctor@ualberta.ca by
SHARE YOUR
KNOW LEDGE
Join the new U of A Guide to Experts
Log on to
www.experts.ualberta.ca
University of Alberta @ folio March 17, 2006
March 13 for banquet tickets. http://www.biology.
ualberta.ca/facilities/strickland/?Page=2439
Physics Colloquium “Challenges and
Applications Physics Colloquium, by Dr. Tony
Lui, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
Laboratory Laurel, Maryland Abstract: This presen-
tation provides a brief glimpse of two major space
disturbances in the magnetosphere that have
relevance to our societal functions with our growth
in the utilization of space technology and assets.
These disturbances are called magnetic storms
and magnetospheric substorms. The applications
include the research on auroral and substorm-
like phenomena in most other planets, analogy
between substorms and solar flares, avalanche and
complexity physics in nonlinear dynamics. * Coffee
and cookies will be available at 3:00 p.m. outside of
V128. Department colloquia are intended to benefit
all students and staff. 3:15 - 4 p.m. V128 Physics
Building. http://www.phys.ualberta.ca/
Professor F Jamil Ragep, EFF Distinguished
Visiting Speaker The role of Religion in Islamic
Science. 3:30 - 5 p.m. L-2 Humanities Centre.
Seeing the big picture: Maps, hands, and the
mental representation of space This is the key-
note presentation for the Joseph R. Royce Research
Conference. Everyone is welcome. There is no regis-
tration fee. Research on spatial cognition has often
been approached from a comparative perspec-
tive, focusing on similarities between human and
non-human species. | will argue that despite the
value of this perspective, it also has limitations. The
human capacity for symbol use profoundly alters
how we think about and communicate spatial
information and how spatial cognition develops.
For example, the use of maps affects the develop-
ment of children’s conceptions of large-scale space.
4:30 - 6:00 p.m. BioSci Building CW410. http://www.
psych.ualberta.ca/~royce/
Ribbon Rouge The Kamit African Caribbean
Society, a student group at the University of
Alberta, presents Ribbon Rouge, an evening
of fashion, art, and jazz, with silent auction, to
raise funds for HIV/AIDS relief in Africa. Tickets
are $10 for students, $15 general admission. All
funds raised from this event will be donated to
the Stephen Lewis Foundation. 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Dinwoodie Lounge, Students’ Union Building.
West Meets East: African Canadian
Experiences Dr. George Elliott Clarke will give a
reading of his latest book “Illustrated Verses” at
Stanley Milner public library, Sir Winston Churchill
Square. As part of a double bill emphasizing the
heterogeneous experiences of African Canadian
communities in Canada this evening event includes
a performance by Pat Darbasie (MFA Directing) of
her one woman play: Ribbon. 7 - 9 p.m. Stanley
Milner Library Theatre, Sir Winston Churchill
Square, Edmonton.
MAR 18 2006
The Stoic Ethic of Detachment Dr. Martin
Tweedale, Professor Emeritus, Philosophy. 2 - 3:30
p.m. Stanley A. Milner Library (Basement in the
Edmonton Room), 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square.
The University of Alberta Symphonic
Wind Ensemble with Northern Alberta Honor
Band The University of Alberta Symphonic Wind
Ensemble with Northern Alberta Honour Band.
William Street, Director. 7 p.m. Arts Building/
Convocation Hall.
MAR 19 2006
Jablonski Endowment Fund Raising Recital
Jablonski Endowment Fund Raising Recital.
Magdalena Adamek, piano. Polonaise-Fantasy, Op
61; Grande Valse Brillante, Op 18: Chopin. Funerailles:
Liszt. Fantasy in C Minor, K475: Mozart. Sonata, Op
26: Bartok. Bagatelles, Op 126: Beethoven. 7:30 p.m.
Arts Building/Convocation Hall.
MAR 20 2006
Healthy Eating on Campus A dynamic
presentation by Peer Nutrition Educators about
how to maintain healthy eating habits here at the
University of Alberta. Everyone is welcome! 1-- 2
p.m. CAB 373.
Noon Hour Organ Recital Noon Hour Organ
Recital. A variety of organ repertoire played by
students, faculty and guests of the University of
Alberta Department of Music. 12 p.m. Arts Building/
Convocation Hall.
University Teaching Services (UTS) Creating
a Positive Assessment Environment This presenta-
tion.examines the place of assessment in the teach-
ing/learning process and presents strategies for
building a stronger bridge between teaching and
testing. The principles that underscore a positive
assessment climate are identified and assessment
techniques, which serve to enhance student moti-
vation and engagement with the course content,
are discussed. Presenter: Anthony Marini, University
of Calgary. Please register for this session at www.
ualberta.ca/~uts. 3 - 4:30 p.m. CAB 243.
Recruitment Seminar Dr. Kerry Laing,
Department of Pathobiology, University of
Washington, will present a seminar entitled
“Recognizing the enemy: Receptors of the innate
and adaptive immune systems of vertebrates.”
Laing is a candidate for the Assistant/Associate
Professor position in Comparative Immunology in
the Department of Biological Sciences. Hosted by
Dr. Brad Magor. 4 - 5 p.m. M 145 Biological Sciences
Building. http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/n
Electrical & Computer Engineering Open
House & Program Information Evening
Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering,
Engineering Physics, Computer Engineering,
Software Engineering and Nanoengineering pro-
grams at the University of Alberta. The Department
will be holding an Open House for all interested
students and the general public. This will include
displays, Q&A sessions with professors, current
and former students, lab tours and research semi-
nars. Free food and pop will be served. 5 - 7 p.m.
Solarium Engineering Teaching and Learning
Complex (ETLC).
75th CSC Public Lecture The 75th CSC
Lectureship Committee is proud to present a public
lecture, “Chemistry's Essential Tension: The Same
and Not the Same” by Dr. Roald Hoffmann, Frank
H. T. Rhodes Professor of Humane Letters at Cornell
University and 1981 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. A
generously illustrated view of chemistry and its over-
lap with the arts. 8 - 9:45 p.m. Edmonton City Hall.
MAR 21 2006
75th CSC Lecturer The 75th CSC Lectureship
Committee is proud to present “All the Ways to
Have a Bond” by Dr. Roald Hoffmann, Frank H. T.
Rhodes Professor of Humane Letters at Cornell
University and 1981 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry.
The Lecture will be held in E1-60 Gunning and
Lemieux Chemistry Centre on Tuesday, March 21
at 9:30 a.m. Light refreshments will be served. 9:30
- 11:00 a.m. E1-60 Gunning and Lemieux Chemistry
Centre, University of Alberta.
Planning your summer vocation Learn how
CaPS can help you with your search for summer
work, along with some of the most effective ways
to find summer employment. Summer employment
programs will also be discussed. Free of charge.
Drop into CaPS office, 2-100 SUB 12:35 - 1:20 p.m.
2-100 SUB. http://www.ualberta.ca/caps
12th Eric J Hanson Lecture Geraint Johnes,
Professor of Economics Management School
Lancaster University, UK will present the topic
“Education and Economic Growth.” Reception
to follow. RSVP ipe@ualberta.ca 3:30 p.m. Prairie
Room, 2nd floor, Lister Centre. http://www.ual-
berta.ca/economics
19th Annual Colter Lecture Professor Cynthia
Kenyon from the Department of Neuroscience,
University of California, San Francisco, will pres-
ent the 19th Annual Colter Lecturer: “Genes
from the Fountain of Youth.” Professor Kenyon
has received many honors: an NIH Merit Award,
an American Cancer Society Professorship, the
King Faisal International Prize for Medicine, the
American Association of Medical Colleges Award
for Distinguished Research, and La Fondation IPSEN
Prize. She is a member of the US National Academy
of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences. She is now the director of the Hillblom
Center for the Biology of Aging at UCSF. 3:30 - 4:30
p.m. 2-27 Medical Sciences Building.
University Teaching Services (UTS)
Challenging Evaluation: Lessons from Community
Service-Learning Community Service-Learning
(CSL) gives students the opportunity to participate
in the activities of a community agency or social
action group as part of a university course. After a
brief overview of the CSL program in the Faculty
of Arts, some of the challenges in evaluating the
outcomes and experiences of CSL students and
other participants in the program are addressed.
Presenters: Dr. Sara Dorow, Acting Director,
and Lorraine Woollard, Administrative Director
Community Service-Learning Please register for
this session at www.ualberta.ca/~uts. 3:30 - 5 p.m.
CAB 243.
First Year Student Information Evening:
Environmental Engineering The First Year
Student Information Evening provides first year
students a chance to meet and interact with
industry representatives, current students, recent
graduates and faculty to find out more about the
Environmental Engineering program and career
stream choices in Environmental Engineering. 5
-8 p.m. 1-017 Engineering Teaching and Learning
Complex (ETLC).
The Colour of Fear Join us International Day
for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, to
view The Color of Fear, a Lee Mun Wah film about
racism. Following the film you are invited to par-
ticipate in a discussion led by Satya Das, author
and award-winning human rights advocate. Free
Admission. Light refreshments will be served.
Event co-hosted by the Office of Human Rights,
the Graduate Students’ Association and the U of A
Students’ Union. 5 - 7:30 p.m. Lister Centre, Aurora
Room.
75th CSC Lecture-Poetry Reading The 75th
CSC Lectureship Committee is proud to present a
reading of original poetry by Dr. Roald Hoffmann,
Frank H. T. Rhodes Professor of Humane Letters
at Cornell University and 1981 Nobel Laureate in
Chemistry. Dr. Hoffmann has bridged the two cul-
tures of science and the humanities, by setting his
poetry and plays in the sciences. Reservations are
required. Please RSVP to GelminiL@macewan.ca.
Light refreshments will be served. 8 p.m. Knoppers
Hall, The King’s University College, 9125 50th St.,
Edmonton, AB.
MAR 22 2006
New Staff Orientation to the University
All new academic and support staff are invited to
attend orientation to the university on Wednesday,
March 22, 2006, 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. This general
orientation will acquaint you with the business of
the U of A. Hear what U of A leaders have to say
about our mission and vision. Learn about campus
life and resources to support you professionally and
personally. Find out about staff associations and
HR services. If you have worked at the U of A for
awhile, but have not attended a previous orienta-
tion, you are welcome to join us at this session.
Advance registration is required. Register online at
The Learning Shop: www.learningshop.ualberta.
ca. 8:30 a.m. Lister Conference Centre, Maple Leaf
Room. http://www.hrs.ualberta.ca/Orientation/
Biotransformation of Selenium in Drainage
Water and Sediments Dr. Tariq Siddique, NSERC-
PDF is presenting a seminar on “Biotransformation
of Selenium in Drainage Water and Sediments.”
11 a.m. M-137, Biological Sciences Building. http://
www.biology.ualberta.ca/courses/micrb606/
PHS Grand Rounds Guest Speaker: Dr. Paul
Gustafson, Professor, Department of Statistics,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
“Bayesian Methodology for Epidemiology.” 12 - 1
p.m. Room 2-117, Clinical Sciences Building. http://
www.phs.ualberta.ca
Making Healthy Choices While Eating Out
Heidi Bates, a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition
Proffessor will guide participants to find strategies
to eat healthy at restaurants. Everyone is welcome!
1-2 p.m. General Services Building 2-11.
University Teaching Services (UTS)
Microteaching for the IS Program The Instructional
Skills (IS) Program offered through University
Teaching Services allows participants to demon-
strate their teaching skills to peers. Participants
with a minimum of 25 hours of pedagogy are invit-
ed to give a 10-minute microteaching presentation
on a topic of interest to and understandable by a
diverse audience. Presentations must be structured
(introduction, body, conclusion) and rehearsed to
fit the 10-minute time slot. If you wish your presen-
tation to be videotaped, please bring a blank VHS
tape. As this is a requirement of the IS Program,
registration and attendance are compulsory. The
IS Program requires five participants per microte-
aching event. Presenters: IS Program Participants
Please register for this session at www.ualberta.
ca/~uts. 1 - 3 p.m. CAB 219.
University Teaching Services (UTS) Formative
Evaluation and Assessment The timing of assess-
ment of student learning or the evaluation of
courses should occur early enough for improvement
during the term. This session explores formative
evaluation and assessment techniques and proposes
some strategies that add value to student learning.
Presenters: Stanley Varnhagen, Faculty of Extension,
and Myrna Sears, Faculty of Extension Please register
for this session at www.ualberta.ca/~uts. 3 - 4:30
p.m. CAB 243. http://www.ualberta.ca/~uts
Acing the Interview (all disciplines) The
focus of this workshop is on how to prepare effec-
tively for a job interview and how to respond to
interview questions. Results from our employer
survey about their practices and expectations
regarding the interview process are included in
this workshop. 5 - 6:30 p.m. 4-02 SUB. http://www.
ualberta.ca/caps
New Play Reading: “Should’ve” This event is
the inaugural reading of a new play, “Should’ve” by
poet, playwright and Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
Roald Hoffmann. The play will “contrast a biologist
who commits suicide, consumed by a misuse by
others of a piece of work he did, with his daughter,
who is unconcerned about the implications of her
work, and her friend, who cannot conceive that art
can hurt people.” 8 p.m. Theatre N102, The King’s
University College, 9125-50 St.
MAR 23 - MAR 26 2006
Bears Hockey Telus University Cup. CIS
National Championship, Clare Drake Arena, Van
Vliet Physical Education and Recreation Centre.
www.cubsclub.ualberta.ca
MAR 23 2006
Centre for Neuroscience - Dr. Karim Fouad
Title: TBA 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 207 HMRC.
Broadus Lecture Series: Lecture 1: “Talking
in Fleet Street: Victorian Feminism and the
Serial Press” What did it mean for Victorian femi-
nism to have a feminist writing in the established
serial press? Exploring the links between Victorian
feminism and the established press, these two
lectures open up our understanding of Victorian
feminism and its political workings, urging us
University of Alberta ®@ folio March 17, 2006
to reconsider what feminism looked like in the
nineteenth-century. 3:30 p.m. Humanities Centre
L-1. http://www.humanities.ualberta.ca/english/
publect.html
Qin Zhang “Mediation and Rural
Governance in Early Twentieth-Century North
China” 3:30 p.m. 2-58 Tory Building.
University Teaching Services (UTS) Using
Flashlight to Illuminate Student Experience
Flashlight Online is a Web-based system for creat-
ing surveys, administering them online and analyz-
ing their results. It can be used for program evalua-
tion, accreditation studies, studies of the effective-
ness of IT support services, quality assurance for
distance learning programs, and studies by faculty
of individual courses. An overview of this service
that is available at no cost to University educators
is presented. Presenter: Sandra Dowie, E-Learning
Development Officer Please register for this session
at www.ualberta.ca/~uts 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. CAB 243.
First Year Student Information Evening
- Petroleum Engineering The First Year Student
Information Evening provides 1st year students a
chance to interact with industry representatives, cur-
rent students, recent graduates and faculty to find
out more about the Petroleum Engineering program
and career stream choices in Petroleum Engineering.
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 1-017 Engineering Teaching and
Learning Complex (ETL).
Picard Lecture in Health Law “Tales of the
Genome: Can we tell when patents foster or
impede innovation?” Dr. Robert Cook Deegan
Director, Centre for Genome Ethics, Law & Policy,
Duke University. 5 - 6:30 p.m. Auditorium, Telus
Centre. http://www.law.ualberta.ca/centres/hli
To the World, With Love: A Celebration of
the Creative Arts “To the World, With Love” is a
fundraising event for the Campus Food Bank and
for scholarships for Arts Students. There will hors
d'oeuvres and wine, and select art work will be
available for silent auction. Art work will include
poetry, short stories, photography, paintings, draw-
ings, film, and more. Tickets are $12 or $10 with a
food bank donation. 5 - 8:30 p.m. TIMMS Centre for
the Arts. http://www.ualberta.ca/~asa
Jones Memorial Lecture “Raising the Score:
The Lessons to be learned from Science about Deaf
children’s reading and a challenge for the future.”
Dr. Lynn McQuarrie, University of Alberta. The issue
of literacy is one that transcends most of the other
issues in the education of students who are deaf
and hard-of-hearing. Whatever the specific goals of
an educational program, the philosophy of commu-
nication, and specific placement, most individuals
would agree that the ability to be able to read and
write is a major goal of educational programs for
these students. While the pendulum of instruction
has swung back and forth several times, reading
performance for deaf and hard of hearing children
has remained quite stable, and unfortunately,
extremely low. With so much attention focused
on deaf children’s literacy - why are we not seeing
progress? 7- 9:30 p.m. RM 2-115 Education North,
Education Building. http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.
ca/edpsychology/wccsd.cfm
Master of Music Recital Master of Music
Recital Meghan Bowen, organ. 8 p.m. Arts Building/
Convocation Hall.
MAR 24 2006
Assessment and Evaluation in Teaching and
Learning Assessment and evaluation have been
described as a vehicle for educational improve-
ment. What should guide our assessment of teach-
ing and learning? What does effective practice in
assessment look like? A panel of three experts from
across our campus will discuss the principles of
good assessment, student ratings of instruction,
program evaluation, and more. Please join us for
this hour and a half of information sharing. Panel
moderator: Paul Sorenson, Vice Provost Information
Technology Panel members: Dwight Harley, Studies
in Medical Education; Dan Precht, AICT; and Stanley
Varnhagen, Faculty of Extension. 12 - 1:30 p.m.
TELUS Centre, Main Floor, Tiered Classroom. http://
www .learningshop.ualberta.ca/welcome.jsp
Distinguished Lecture Series Distinguished
Lecture entitled “Mining Multi-Dimensional
Data in Cube Space” by Dr Raghu Ramakrishnan,
Professor of Computer Sciences at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison. Please join us for coffee and
cookies at 3 p.m., lecture to follow at 3:30 p.m. 3:00
p.m. - 5:00 p.m. CSC B-10. http://www.cs.ualberta.
ca/events/dls/
Broadus Lecture Series: Lecture 2:
“Everyday Feminism: Frances Power Cobbe,
Domestic Violence, and the London Echo”
What did it mean for Victorian feminism to have
a feminist writing in the established serial press?
Exploring the links between Victorian feminism
and the established press, these two lectures open
up our understanding of Victorian feminism and
its political workings, urging us to reconsider what
feminism looked like in the nineteenth-century.
Reception to follow. 3:30 p.m. Humanities Centre
L-1. http://www.humanities.ualberta.ca/english/
publect.html
Copper-Binding Proteins in Cytochrome
March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Lister Centre, Aurora Room
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Admission: Free light refreshments will be served
Join us to watch the film and to participate ina
discussion led by Satya Das, author and award-
winning human rights advocate.
GFC COMMITTEES:
ACADEMIC AND SUPPORT STAFF NEEDED
The terms of office of a number of faculty and support staff members serving on
General Faculties Council (GFC) Standing Committees and on committees and
Appeal Boards to which GFC elects members will expire on June 30, 2006. The GFC
Nominating Committee (NC) is seeking academic and support staff members to fill the
following vacancies for terms normally 3 years in length, beginning July 1, 2006.
Committee
ACADEMIC PLANNING COMMITTEE (APC):
GFC’s senior committee dealing with
academic, financial and planning issues.
CAMPUS LAW REVIEW COMMITTEE (CLRQ):
Reviews Code of Student Behaviour, Code
of Applicant Behaviour and Residence
Community Standards.
COMMITTEE ON THE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT (CLE): Promotes excellence in
teaching and optimal learning environment
and provides for appropriate information
resources to the University community.
FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
(FDC): Recommends on planning and use of
facilities, proposed buildings, use of land,
parking and transportation.
UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS AND
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE (UASC): Approves
new awards for undergraduate students
including selection and eligibility.
Staff Vacancies
TWO academic staff members (from
Category A1.0) who are members of GFC
ONE NASA member at-large
(Category B1.1)
| Meeting Times
2:00 pm/2M4 g, 4th
Wednesdays
ONE academic or support staff member
(from Categories A1.0, A2.0, B1.1, B1.2)
TWO academic staff members (from
Category A1.0), one of whom must be a
member of GFC
THREE academic staff members (from
Category A1.0) who are NOT from the
Faculties of Agriculture, Forestry, and
Home Economics or Science as these
Faculties have representation on FDC
ONE support staff member (Category B1.0)
TWO academic staff members (from
Categories A1.1, A1.5, A1.6)
9:30 am/last Thursday
2:00 pm/15t
Wednesday
9:00 am/3" Friday
4times a year (Jan,
Mar, June and Oct)
UNIVERSITY TEACHING AWARDS (UTAC):
Adjudicates the Rutherford Award for
Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching,
the William Hardy Alexander Award for
Excellence in Sessional Teaching, and the
Teaching Unit Award.
PROGRAM REDUCTION AND DELETION
REVIEW COMMITTEE (PRDRC): Reviews
reorganization (reduction, deletion or
transfer) of programs.
DEPARTMENT CHAIR SELECTION
COMMITTEES: Members are chosen in
rotation from a panel of 15 to serve on
Department Chair selection committees.
ONE academic staff member (from
Categories A1.1, A1.5 or A1.6) who is
NOT from the Faculties of Education,
Arts, Business or Agriculture, Forestry,
and Home Economics as these Faculties
have representation on UTAC
THREE academic staff members
(from Category A1.0)
FIVE academic staff members
(from Categories A1.1, A1.5 or A1.6)
Normally 3 times a year
(Oct, Mar and Apr)
Scheduled as required
Constituted as
Department Chair
selection processes
are initiated
SENATE: Links with the community and is an
independent advisory body of community
leaders.
EXTENSION FACULTY COUNCIL: Represents
University interests on the Faculty of
Extension Council.
TWO academic staff members
(from Categories A1.1, A1.5 or A1.6)
MUST be members of GFC
4 times a year
THREE academic staff members (from
Category A1.0 exclusive of the Faculty
of Extension)
Average of 6 times
a year
Information about GFC committees is available on the University Secretariat website
at http://www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/ For definitions of Categories of Staff, please
go to the above-noted website and access the GFC Policy Manual, Section 5.1.4. All
nominations, or expressions of interest, should be accompanied by a brief resume
or biographical sketch and directed to Ms M Lewis, Secretary, GFC Nominating
Committee, Room 2-5 University Hall (492-1938; marlene.lewis@ualberta.ca) by Friday,
March 31, 2006.
For complete University of Alberta job listings visit:
www.hrs.ualberta.ca/
Oxidase Assembly Moira Glerum, Medical
Genetics, University of Alberta is presenting a semi-
nar on “Copper-Binding Proteins in Cytochrome
Oxidase Assembly.” 3:30 p.m. M-149 Biological
Sciences Building. http://www.biology.ualberta.
ca/courses/genet605/
Etiquette workshop and Silent Auction for
Bangladesh This is a non-profit fundraiser for a
women and children’s hospital in rural Bangladesh.
The event will feature a brief lesson in fine-dining
etiquette, Bangladeshi dancers, a silent auction
and three course meal. For tickets please contact
Hannes, jb17@ualberta.ca 6:30 p.m. The Faculty
Club. http://www.ualberta.ca/~goldnkey/
MAR 25 2006
Lethbridge Annual Alumni AGM and Dessert
Reception The University of Alberta Lethbridge
Alumni Branch invites all alumni and their family
and friends to the Lethbridge and District Annual
AGM and Dessert Reception. Guest Speaker: Dr.
Billy Strean Associate Professor, University of
Alberta. Certified Laughter Leader Details: 1:30 p.m.
Lethbridge Lodge 320 Scenic Drive, Lethbridge, AB.
Event admission, dessert bar, coffee & tea and pro-
gram for only: $10.00 per person For more informa-
tion and to RSVP: Laurence Hoye Ph: 403.381.4120
RSVP deadline March 17. NOTE: Payments may
be accepted at the door; however, registration is
required by March 17.
Mixed Chorus Alumni Association Dinner/
AGM/Spring Concert/Alumni Reception Come
and join the MCAA for the 62nd annual Spring
Concert! Dinner, 5:00 p.m.; Annual General Meeting,
6:30 p.m.; Concert, 8 p.m. Alumni Reception with
UAMC, 9:30 p.m. Francis Winspear Centre for Music
Edmonton, AB.
University Mixed Chorus University Mixed
Chorus 62nd Annual Concert with The U of A
Handbell Ringers Robert de Frece, Director 8 p.m.
Francis Winspear Centre for Music.
MAR 26 2006
University Symphony Orchestra with
University of Alberta Concert Choir and
Madrigral Singers University Symphony Orchestra
with University of Alberta Concert Choir and
Madrigal Singers Michael Massey and Debra Cairns,
Conductors Soloist: Po-Yuan Ku, saxophone Nanie
(Song of Lamentation), Op 82; Gesang der Parzen
(Song of the Fates): Johannes Brahms Saxophone
Concerto: Henri Tomasi Symphony No 5: Ralph
Vaughan-Williams 8:00 p.m. Francis Winspear
Centre for Music.
MAR 27 2006
Edmonton Consular Ball Scholarship for
International Studies Awarded to graduate or
third and fourth year undergraduate students who
wish to undertake a summer research project in
the area of International Studies. Students from
all faculties are encouraged to apply. Two to three
scholarships are awarded annually. Deadline for
application: March 27, 2006 University of Alberta
International. http://www. international.ualberta.ca/
Tim Brooks, L.H. Thomas Lecture “The
Art of Buying Art (and Not Buying Trash) in
Ming China.” Reception to follow. 3 - 5 p.m.
Tiered Classroom TELUS Centre for Professional
Development.
University Teaching Services (UTS) Leading
a Balanced Life. Many busy professors and gradu-
ate students struggle to achieve a balanced life.
This session shows that the key aspect of balance
is one of choice. Through experiential activities,
we explore the power of perspectives and look at
what clearly saying “yes” or “no” to various alterna-
tives can mean. Presenter: Billy Strean, Physical
Education and Recreation Faculty Please register
for this session at www.ualberta.ca/~uts. 3 - 5 p.m.
CAB 243.
Constitution Making in Fragile States Karol
Soltan will present a lecture entitled “Constitution
Making in Fragile States” Sponsored by the Centre
for Constitutional Studies 4 - 5:30 p.m. 237 Law
Centre. www.ualberta.ca/ccs
Recruitment Seminar Dr. Daniel Barreda,
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
will present a seminar entitled “Phagocytosis: trac-
ing the origins for regulatory mechanisms of innate
and acquired immunity”. Dr. Barreda is a candidate
for the Assistant/Associate Professor position in
Comparative Immunology in the Department of
Biological Sciences. Hosted by Reuben Kaufman. 4
- 5 p.m. M 145 Biological Sciences Building. http://
www. biology.ualberta.ca
MAR 28 2006
Dr Tim Brooks, UBC, LH Thomas Lecture,
“Satire or Sedition? Collaborationist Cartoons
in Japanese-Occupied” 3-5 p.m. Senate Chamber
326 Arts Building/Convocation Hall .
Green Energy for Energy Security and
Sustainable Development Speaker X. Li Professor,
University of Waterloo This presentation will be
concerned with green energy research, including
what is green energy, why green energy, and how
University of Alberta @® folio March 17, 2006
to achieve it. 3:30 p.m. 2-001 Natural Resources
Engineering Facility, Markin/CNRL. http://www.
uofaweb.ualberta.ca/mece/departmentseminars.
cfm
MAR 29 2006
PHS Grand Rounds PHS Student's Association
presents: Guest Speaker: Dr Davy Dhillon, “Of
Doctors Without Borders”, Department of Family
Medicine, University of Calgary “Antiretroviral
Therapy Programs for HIV in Conflict Zones.” 12 - 1
p.m. Room 2-117, Clinical Sciences Building.
Called by the bar: First steps to becoming
a lawyer Wondering if Law school might be your
next career move? Consider these next steps:
assessing your suitability for a career in Law, inves-
tigating how Law degrees can be used, choosing
a Law school, writing the LSAT and more! Free of
charge. Drop into CaPS office, 2-100 SUB. 12:05 -
12:50 p.m. http://www.ualberta.ca/caps
Hear’s to Your Health Hear’s to Your Health.
Marina Hoover, cello. Patricia Tao, piano. Sonata No.
3 in A Major for Cello and Piano, Op. 69: Beethoven.
Sonata for Cello and Piano: Strauss. 5 p.m. Foyer,
Snell Auditorium Health Sciences Complex, W.C.
Mackenzie .
University Teaching Services (UTS)
PowerPoint Animations Animations can enhance
or detract from your message. This hands-on ses-
sion works with the possibilities for animation
in a PowerPoint presentation and cautions on
the problems associated with adding animation
just because you can! Presenter:Kevin Moffitt,
Technology Training Centre Limited computer
workstations available; first registered, first seated.
Please register for this session at www.ualberta.
ca/~uts 5 - 6 p.m. Technology Training Centre,
lower level of Cameron Library.
VIKING SAGAS AND THE SETTLEMENT
OF ICELAND The 2006 Richard Frucht Memorial
Lectures Series will feature: Dr. Phillip Walker,
University of California, Santa Barbara. Viking sagas
and the settlement of iceland: Archaeological
Evidence from the Mosfell Valley. 7 - 8 p.m. Theatre
12 Tory Lecture Theatre Complex. arts.ualberta.
ca/~agas/frucht2006.html
An Evening with Michael Franti An extended
evening with Michael Franti featuring Premier
Screening of the documentary “I Know I'm Not
Alone,” followed by a Q & A session with Michael
and an extended solo acoustic performance. 8 p.m.
Myer Horowitz Theatre. http://www.iknowimno-
talone.com.
MAR 30 2006
Creative Works Reading by Steven Heighton
Steven Heighton is the author, most recently, of
a novel, Afterlands, which has just appeared in
Canada and will follow in the USA, Britain, Australia,
Germany, and the Netherlands in 2006. He has
also published The Shadow Boxer, which was
a Publishers’ Weekly Book of the Year for 2002,
appearing in the USA with Houghton Mifflin and
in Britain with Granta. His other fiction books are
Flight Paths of the Emperor and On earth as it is,
and his poetry collections include The Ecstasy of
Skeptics and The Address Book. His work is trans-
lated into nine languages, has been internationally
anthologised, and has been nominated for the
Governor General's Award, the Trillium Award, a
Pushcart Prize, the Journey Prize, and Britain’s W.H.
Smith Award (best book of the year). He has also
won gold medals for fiction and for poetry in the
National Magazine Awards. He lives with his family
in Kingston, Ontario. 3:30 p.m. HC L-3. http://www.
humanities.ualberta.ca/english
Karla Pollmann (University of St. Andrews)
“Virtue, Vice and Politics in Ammianus
Marcellinus’ Obituaries on the Emperors” Co-
sponsored with Religious Studies 3:30 p.m. 2-58
Tory Building.
MAR 30 - APR 8 2006
Studio Theatre presents Scenes from an
Execution by Howard Barker Howard Barker's
Scenes From An Execution depicts a brilliant and
defiant female artist who is commissioned by
the state to create a painting to commemorate
a momentous military battle. The play fearlessly
explores themes of power, sexuality, and human
motivation, overflowing with rich language, chal-
lenging ideas, beauty, history, violence and an
unusual sense of humour. Advance tickets available
through TIX on the Square, 420-1757 or online at
www.tixonthesquare.ca . Walk-up tickets available
at the Timms Centre Box Office one hour prior
to curtain, for that day’s performance only. No
performance Sunday, April 2, 2006. 8 p.m. Timms
Centre for the Arts. http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.
ca/drama/studiotheatre.cfm
MAR 31 2006
17th Annual Warren Kalbach Conference
A annual conference on population issues held at
the University of Alberta. This year’s theme focuses
on Aging in Canadian Society. Tory Breezeway #2.
http://www.ualberta.ca/PRL
Nonhomologous recombination and catalyt-
ic RNAs Peter Unrau, Assistant Professor, Molecular
Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University
is presenting a seminar on “Nonhomologous
recombination and catalytic RNAs”. 3:30 p.m. M-149
Biological Sciences Building. http://www.biology.
ualberta.ca/courses/genet605/
Nonhomologous recombination and cata-
lytic RNAs Peter Unrau, Molecular Biology and
Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University is presenting
a seminar on “Nonhomologous recombination and
catalytic RNAs.” 3:30 p.m. M-149 Biological Sciences
Building. http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/courses/
genet605/
Trophy Taking: A Bioarchaeological
Perspective on the History of Ritualized Violence
The 2006 Richard Frucht Memorial Lectures
Series will feature: Dr. Phillip Walker, University of
California, Santa Barbara 4 - 5 p.m. Tory Breezeway
1 (TB-W1). http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/~agas/
frucht2006.html
APR 2 - 5 2006
12th Annual Qualitative Health Research
Conference At this conference, we will consider
ways in which qualitative health research provides
a voice of marginalized and vulnerable populations,
challenges the status quo, and uncovers new solu-
tions to issues in health and health care. Please see
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/iiqm/QHR2006.
cfm for more information on the conference. The
Westin Hotel, Edmonton.
APR 3 2006
Curriculum & Pedagogy Institute Guest
Lecture Curriculum & Pedagogy Institute presents:
Dr Shuying (Sean) Li, Center for Learning Study
and School Partnership, Hong Kong Institute
of Education Title: Eastern Lesson Studies and
Enhancement of Classroom Teaching and Learning
All are welcome! Refreshments will be provided. 12
p.m. 358/366 Education South Education Centre.
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/education//pdfs/
CPinWinter2006rev.pdf
School beginnings; Political beginnings;
Research beginnings: A personal story of work-
ing in teacher education Dr. Helen May is Head
of the Faculty of Education at the University of
Otago in New Zealand. A long time writer in the
field, she has played an active part in the campaign
for early childhood education over the last twenty
years, and played a leading role in curriculum
development and policy formation. Her books
include Politics in the Playground: The World of
Early Childhood in Postwar New Zealand, Minding
Children, Managing Men, and School Beginnings: A
Nineteenth Century Colonial Story. 12- 1 p.m. 633
Education South .
APR 4 2006
Hope or hype? - Do we need genetically
modified food to feed the world? AFNS seminar
series charting the future of agriculture presents:
Dr. Channapatna S. Prakash, Director Center for
Plant Biotechnology Research & Professor in Plant
Molecular Genetics, Tuskegee University, Alabama,
USA. Refreshments and Cash Bar will follow event.
This event is open to the public! 4 - 5 p.m. Telus
Centre lecture theatre, rm 150.
APR 5 2006
Edmonton Regional Alumni & Friends
Reception for Civil & Environmental Engineers
Join other Edmonton-area University of Alberta
Engineering alumni and friends of the Faculty as
we pay tribute to all of you who carry on the great
tradition of the U of A Engineer. 7 - 9 p.m. Solarium
Engineering Teaching and Learning Complex
(ETLC). http://www.engineering.ualberta.ca/alumni
APR 6 2006
D.B. Robinson Distinguished Speaker
Series, featuring Michael Tsapatsis Using theory
and simulation to design “smart” polymeric sys-
tems. Michael Tsapatsis, University of Minnesota.
Michael Tsapatsis joined the Department of
Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the
University of Minnesota in September 2003. He
received an Engineering Diploma (1988) from The
University of Patras, Greece, and MS (1991) and
Ph.D. (1994) degrees from the California Institute
of Technology (Caltech) working with G.R. Gavalas.
He was a post-doctoral Fellow with M.E. Davis at
Caltech (1993/94). Before joining the University of
Minnesota he spent nine years as a faculty member
in the Chemical Engineering Department at the
University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is the
recipient of a David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Fellowship, a National Science Foundation CAREER
Award, and a Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar
Award. His research interests include development
of oriented zeolite films and molecular sieve/poly-
mer nanocomposites for membrane applications.
3:30 - 4:20 p.m. Refreshments will be available at
3:10 p.m. outside the room E1-007 Engineering
Teaching and Learning Complex (ETLC).
Agape Learning Over Lunch: Social Justice
Video Series AGAPE - A Sex, Sexual, and Gender
Differences in Education and Culture Focus
Group in the Faculty of Education, University of
Alberta 2005 - 2006 Learning Over Lunch: Social
Justice Video Series (Free Admission) Today’s
Video Presentation: “Hate.com: Extremists on the
Internet.” A gritty documentary that explores the
individuals behind websites opposed to non-
whites, gays, new immigrants, and a variety of
other targets. These hate groups build websites
not only for the dissemination of intolerance, but
also for the purposes of recruitment. In their own
words, these extremists talk about their doctrines,
tactics, and goals. Contains some explicit language
and imagery. Guest Discussant: Dr. Alvin Schrader,
School of Library & Information Studies. If you
have a question about Agape or the Social Justice
Video Series, please email Dr. André P. Grace at
andre.grace@ualberta.ca or Kris Wells at kwells@
ualberta.ca or Contact the Agape Project Office
at 492-0772 or visit us @ 5-181K in the Education
North Building. 12 - 1 p.m. 7-102 Education North
Education Centre. http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.
ca/education//pdfs/agape2005_2.pdf
Norman Ingram (Concordia University)
“Selbstmord or Euthanasia: the Ligue des
droits de l'homme and the Nazis after the fall of
France, 1940” 3:30 p.m. 2-58 Tory Building.
Guest Speaker Dr. Miguel Valvano Canada
Research Chair in Infectious Diseases and Microbial
Pathogenesis Professor and Department Chair
Microbiology and Immunology University of
Western Ontario. Burkholderia cenocepacia: an
opportunistic bacterim that fools macrophages.
4-5 p.m. Classroom F - 24.02 WMC. http://www.
ualberta.ca/cellbiology
APR 7 2006
Internal affair: lron regulation by a small
RNA Eric Massé, Department of Biochemistry,
University of Sherbrooke is presenting a seminar on
“Internal affair: Iron regulation by a small RNA” in
M-149 Biological Sciences Building, 3:00 p.m. http://
www. biology.ualberta.ca/courses/genet605/index.
php?Page=3700
Ads are charged at $0.65 per word. Minimum charge: $6.50. All advertisements must be paid for in full by cash or cheque
at the time of their submission. Bookings may be made by fax, mail or email provided payment is received by mail prior
to the deadline date. Pre-paid accounts can be set up for frequent advertisers. Please call 492-2325 for more information.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR RENT
REAL ESTATE - Buy or Sell, Leases (furnished/
unfurnished). Janet Fraser or Gordon W.R. King.
Telephone: (780) 441-6441, www.gordonwrking-
assoc.com Gordon W.R. King and Associates Real
Estate Corp.
GREENVIEW FURNISHED SABBATICAL
HOME, cul-de-sac location. 3 bdrms on main and
fully finished basement with artist's studio, two full
baths. Peaceful and beautiful backyard. Immediate,
long term lease available. Call Janet Fraser 441-
6441 Gordon W.R. King & Assoc. Real Estate Corp
CLARIDGE HOUSE - 2 bdrm plus den condo,
2 full baths, unfurnished, south view with lots of
bright sunshine. Immediate to June 30/06, $1,300/
mo. Call Janet Fraser 441-6441 Gordon W.R. King &
Assoc. Real Estate Corp.
HOLIDAY RENTALS MEDIEVAL HOUSE OR
STUDIO APARTMENT South of France near
Montpellier (780) 433-9602, salliejohnson@shaw.ca.
FURNISHED SABBATICAL HOUSE: excellent, 3
bedrooms, 2 ¥2 baths, 2,500 sq. ft. Close to very good
schools, airport, UofA, shopping, restaurants and
other amenities. Blue Quill/Heritage area. July 06-
July 07. (780) 435-0533, peter.boxall@ualberta.ca.
COMPLETELY RENOVATED BUNGALOW IN
PARKALLEN for rent ($1,200 plus utilities). Ideal for
one/two people. Polite/peaceful lifestyle, no smok-
ing, no noise/music outside. Pets/plants welcome
if treated with TLC. Phone 438-6511 for interview/
appointment. Please leave message.
GREAT HOUSE - EASY WALK TO U OF A &
DOWNTOWN, 4 bedroom character semi bunga-
low, hardwood floors, 2 full bathrooms, developed
basement, single garage, fantastic location, 85th
Ave 109th Street. Could rent basement separately,
Sandy 991-6607.
AVAILABLE APRIL 1 - fully-furnished, equipped
house, U of A area. 2 bedrooms up, rec-room in the
basement, renovated kitchen, dining area, deck.
$975/month + utilities. Contact Susan Janzen 893-
7989 sjanzen@realtyexecutives.com .
MacEwan
Do you want a rewarding flexible
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McKernan School
11330-76 Avenue
435-4163
website: mckernan.epsb.ca
SB EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Kindergarten to Grade 9 « English and French Immersion Programs
Late French Immersion starting at Grade 7
Elementary Open House: March 23, 7 p.m.
Junior High Open House: April 6, 7 p.m.
Extensions Program (gifted & talented)
Pride in Excellence
Another Signature Project by
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Monday through Thursday, 2 pm - 6 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 1 pm - 5 pm
Call Karey Lear ¢ Karey Lear Realty Ltd.
975-8866
www.abbeylanehomes.com
University of Alberta ® folio March 17, 2006
Review of the Vice-President
(Finance and Administration):
Input from the Community
The first term review for Vice-President (Finance and Administration) Phyllis
Clark is currently underway. Vice-President Clark has advised President
Indira Samarasekera that she would like to stand for a second term of office.
In consultation with the Chair of the Board of Governors, Mr. Jim Edwards,
President Samarasekera has therefore asked that an Advisory Review
Committee for Vice-President (Finance and Administration) be struck.
The Advisory Review Committee believes it is essential for members of the
University community to have an opportunity to contribute to the review
process. Individuals are welcome to express their views on priorities of
the Vice-President (Finance and Administration); including current issues,
leadership, and the future direction of the Office of Vice-President (Finance
and Administration). An anonymized summary of the feedback will be
provided to Vice-President Clark during the review process. The Committee
invites you to submit your comments and/or suggestions, in confidence, by
4:30 pm, March 31, 2006 to:
President Indira Samarasekera
c/o Marcia Lang, Secretary to the Advisory Review Committee
3-1 University Hall
University of Alberta, T6G 2J9
phone: (780) 492-4383
email: marcia.lang@ualberta.ca
fax: (780) 492-9265
Please note that the membership of the Advisory Review Committee will
confirmed by March 30, 2006 and posted on the President's website at www.
president.ualberta.ca, along with the position description for the Vice-President
(Finance and Administration).
Fulbright Public Lecture
Dr. Michael Broadway, a distinguished
scholar visiting the Department of Rural
Economy during the period January to
April is the recipient of a prestigious
Canada-US Fulbright Award at the
University of Alberta. Dr. Broadway
plans to examine the role of mad cow
disease in the economic and social life in Alberta. He will present a
lecture titled:
“Beefpacking and Community Change: A Case
Study of Brooks, Alberta”
Thursday, March 23, 2006
4:00 P.M.
Room 134 Telus Centre
Reception to Follow
If you are unable to attend the seminar please note it will be
webcast at http://www.re.ualberta.ca/webcast/
: Sponsored by the Faculty of Agriculture, Fo: ae -
_ and Home Economics and the Department of
Rural Economy. a
NIVERSITY OF
GS ALBERTA
sutra
2000 SQ. FT. 4 BEDROOM - beautifully reno-
vated home in Blue Quill-southwest Edmonton.
Double-attached garage, large yard, great family
neighbourhood, close to all shopping convenienc-
es, excellent schools (French immersion) close by,
on direct bus route to U of A. Available May 1, 2006
(non-smoking) Rent 1,300 per month, POU. Call
Darlene or Jeff at 434-1075 or 242-1076.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SALE
TOWNHOUSE IN DESIRABLE OLD STRATHCONA
- walking distance to university; 1 block to river val-
ley; stroll to market, theatres, restaurants. Code 7172
on Comfree.com, or, e-mail: m.x.zap@shaw.ca.
MILL CREEK - ON RAVINE- This is the best
ravine property you can get. Secluded and private,
with stunning views. New windows, newer kitchen,
post and beam two storey. Photos at www.pat-
tiproctor.com Call Patti Proctor, Realty Executives
Devonshire 909 - 5140. 8913 - 97 Street. $495,000.
MILL CREEK —- LARGE LOT WITH VIEW - Classic
1730 sq.ft. 2 % storey on large pie lot. 4 bedrooms,
modern kitchen, basement suite. 9837 - 93 Avenue.
www.pattiproctor.com. Call Patti Proctor, Realty
Executives Devonshire at 909-5140. $459,900.
THE LANDING - CLOVERDALE - Close to down-
town and river valley, 2 bedrooms plus den, 2 full
baths, u/g parking, gas fireplace Photos at www.
pattiproctor.com Call Patti Proctor or Lorraine
Alfonsi, Realty Executives Devonshire 909-5140
LANSDOWNE - LARGE BUNGALOW -
Beautifully renovated 4 plus 2 bedroom bungalow
in great neighborhood. Lots of hardwood, new
furnace, new basement with laminate and much
more! Photos at www.pattiproctor.com. Call Patti
Proctor at 909-5140. Realty Executives Devonshire
positions
ACCOMMODATIONS WANTED
FORMER UOFA GRADUATE STUDENT seeks
housesit for July and August 2006 to research in
Edmonton. Will care for pets or plants. Local refer-
ences can be provided. Please contact svint@stfx.ca.
MISCELLANEOUS
VICTORIA PROPERTIES. Knowledgeable,
trustworthy Realtor, whether you're relocating,
investing or renting. Will answer all queries, send
information, no cost/obligation. “Hassle-free” prop-
erty management provided. Louis Dutton, Duttons
& Co. Ltd., Victoria, B.C. 1 (800) 574-7491 or lois@
duttons.com.
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
(QUAKERS) meet Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at L'Arche,
7708 — 83 Street, Edmonton. Visitors Welcome.
Visit http://www.edmonton quakers.org for more
information.
SERVICES
CASH PAID for quality books. Edmonton Book
Store, 433-1781. www.edmontonbookstore.com
ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MARTIAL ARTIST?
Why wait another day? 2 for 1 Family Rates.
Northern River Karate School 707-3693 www.
ThreeBattles.com
EDITING, PROOFREADING, AND WRITING
SERVICES 716-4242/473-2141 typescript@inter-
baun.com.
ORGANIZER — need someone to help you orga-
nize office, home or project? 716-4242/473-2141
typescript@interbaun.com.
NEED SOMEONE TO WALK YOUR DOG? FEE
YOUR CAT? | mind your home, your pets Residential
house/pet-sitting, pet care and pet taxi. Leave
message with Mona @ 498-2917.
The records arising from this competition will be managed in accordance with provisions of the Alberta
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP). The University of Alberta hires on the basis of merit.
We are committed to the principle of equity of employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications
from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Aboriginal
persons. With regard to teaching positions: All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians
and permanent residents will be given priority. For complete U of A job listings visit www.hrs.ualberta.ca .
INTERNAL AUDITOR
INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES
The University of Alberta is seeking a talented,
self-motivated professional to contribute to the
delivery of Internal Audit Service's mission of
providing independent, objective assurance and
consulting services. Internal Audit Services helps
the university accomplish its objectives by employ-
ing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate
and improve the effectiveness of risk management,
control, and governance processes.
Reporting to the Director, the auditor will be
responsible for planning and executing financial
and operational audits across the institution. This
includes working independently and with peers
as well as managing co-sourced expertise. Internal
Auditors also investigate allegations of frauds or
irregularities and contribute to setting the strategic
direction for the audit function.
Partnering with management to promote con-
tinuous improvement will require the auditor to use
excellent business acumen, communication, analysis,
and negotiation skills. The ideal candidate will:
+ _ Hold a university-degree and a relevant
accounting designation CA/CMA/CGA or
Certified Internal Audit (CIA).
+ Look to utilize what they have learned in six to.
eight years of experience in an internal audit
or related role in a complex organization. This
includes excellent planning, organizational and
interpersonat skills.
+ — Possess the ability to think strategically and to
provide leadership in the areas of risk manage-
ment and internal control, based on strong
working knowledge of applicable frameworks
(e.g. COSO and CobiT).
+ Be proficient in the use of desktop computing
and related software, as well as the use of com-
puter assisted audit techniques (experience
with ACL preferred).
+ Enjoy the challenge of keeping abreast of
auditing trends and promoting the profession
through initiative and high-quality work.
+ — Have, preferably, post-secondary or public
sector experience supplemented with an audit
specialization such as CISA or CFE.
The University offers a comprehensive salary
and benefits package. This is a full-time continuing
Administrative/Professional Officer position with a
salary range of $56,212 - $89,000 per annum.
Internal Audit is committed to supporting
employee health and wellness, and will consider
candidates who want to work less than full time as
part of selection process: Travels very limited.
Review of applications will commence March
31, 2006, and will continue until the position
is filled. More information about Internal Audit
Services is available on our website: http://www.
uofaweb.ualberta.ca/internalaudit/
Applications should:be submitted,
in confidence, to:
Mary Persson, Internal Audit Service
307 Campus Tower, 8625-112 Street
University of Alberta 14] folio March 17, 2006
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 0H1
E-mail: mary.persson@ualberta.ca
BIOSTATISTICAL ANALYST
THE CANADIAN VIGOUR CENTRE,
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
The Canadian VIGOUR Center at the University
of Alberta is seeking applications for the post of
a biostatistical analyst. The successful candidate
should be able to work with large administrative and
clinical trial databases and conduct statistical analy-
ses to address clinical issues in consultation and col-
laboration with the centre's senior researchers. The
candidate must have a Master's degree supplement-
ed by strong training in statistical methods (such
as logistic regression analysis and survival analysis).
The candidate must be familiar with SAS and SPSS
statistical packages and have proficiency in SAS and
other statistical packages. Interested candidates
should send a CV to Padma Kaul, 7226 Aberhart Ctr.1
or email pkaul@ualberta.ca.
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, |
LAB-ON-CHIP BIOTECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND.
COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Our laboratory has a position available in a
project of integrating life science and molecular
biology protocols onto microfabricated devices.
Our primary goal is the development of medical
diagnostics. We seek a person with.a PhD in an
experimental field in the life sciences, natural sci-
ences or engineering. Anyone with experience with
the conventional techniques described below, and
with an interest in-their miniaturization, is a suitable
candidate for the position.
This multi-year project is a vibrant collabora-
tion between labs in the Faculties of Engineering
and Medicine & Dentistry. The project involves the
transfer of conventional life science protocols to
microfluidic (“lab on a chip”) devices. Most of this
activity will take place in a laboratory that is jointly-
operated by life science and engineering research-
ers. The position requires:
- Ademonstrated ability to troubleshoot and think
critically in an experimental environment.
- Good communication/interpersonal skills.
- The ability to work in a diverse interdisciplinary
environment.
- Demonstrated experimental experience in
biochemistry, biophysics, analytical:chemistry or
molecular biology, particularly in electrophoretic or
other separation methods or in the development or
troubleshooting of assays (chemical or biological).
- Demonstrated ability to productively direct one’s
own research, as well as that of others.
Applicants will have a PhD with a demonstrat-
ed record of productivity in an experimental area.
The successful candidate will be a junior investiga-
tor and will participate fully in research and related
scholarly activities. He/she will take a leadership
role, work closely with the research team, mentor
graduate students and manage long-term research
projects to completion.
In order to apply, please send a cover letter
and a CV that includes: 1) a list of research & devel-
opment projects participated in, 2) a list of publica-
tions (please describe your role in each), and 3) the
names and contact information of at least three
references.
Please send these via email to:
Professor Chris Backhouse, Department of
Electrical and Computer Engineering
chrisb@ualberta.ca with a carbon copy (cc) to
Krista@ece.ualberta_ca
Please also use the subject line of “ATTN: RA
- Integration Position”
In case of difficulty in communications, please
contact Krista at +1 (780) 492-8336.
Applications will be accepted until the position
is filled. Salary will be commensurate with experi-
ence. All applications will be acknowledged.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR,
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
RESOURCES AND SERVICES
The University of Alberta Libraries (www.
library.ualberta.ca), Canada’s second largest ARL
library, and one of Canada’s most technologically
advanced research libraries seeks outstanding
candidates for the position of Associate Director,
Information Technology Resources and Services.
The Associate Director will contribute personal
vision and energy to ensuring that the Libraries
form an active part of the University’s aspirations
for regional, national and international recognition.
The incumbent will provide leadership in the vision,
development and management of the Libraries’
next-generation digital services environment and
oversee the Information Technology Resources and
Services Unit, including:
Providing leadership through the identifica-
tion of technology-based applications that sup-
Please send notices attention Folio, 6th floor General Services building, University of Alberta, T6G 2H1 or e-mail
port improvements to library services and staff
productivity and through participation in the
Senior Administrative Team. Effectively planning,
budgeting and allocating resources and imple-
menting technology and applications in support
of the vision, mission and goals of the Libraries,
the Learning Services portfolio and the University.
Supervising the Information Technology Resources
and Services staff, consisting of five librarians
responsible for operations, web development, digi-
tal initiatives, e-resources and licensing; and twenty
technical/support and project staff. Ensuring that
the Libraries’ and Learning Services’ interests are
represented on campus-wide committees and
activities related to technology.
Contributing to the highly collaborative environ-
ment within the province, the region and the nation.
The ideal candidate will have an accredited
degree in library science, a minimum of seven years
of progressive experience, including work in library
systems and/or technology, and a successful track
record of management/supervisory experience. We
expect demonstrated success in facilitating and
managing technology in research libraries and a
strong understanding of technical applications. We
expect a strong communicator with an avid interest
in pursuing new directions in digital library services
and in fostering innovation and team building.
This tenure-track position is classified at the
Librarian 3 level with a current salary range of
$74,754-118,722. Librarians at the University of
Alberta have academic status and participate in a
generous benefits program. Closing date for appli-
cations is April 30, 2006.
To apply, please mail, fax, or e-mail your letter
of application, résumé, and the names and address-
es of three referees to:
Karen Adams
Director of Library Services and Information
Resources
Cameron Library
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 258
Fax: (780) 492 -8302
Email: karen.adams@ualberta.ca
public.affairs@ualberta.ca. Notices should be received by 12 p.m. Thursday one week prior to publication.
UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSHIPS
Call For Nominations
The Selection Committee for University
Professorships is pleased to invite nominations for
the Spring 2006 competition. The title of University
Professor is the highest honour this University
can bestow on a member of its academic staff
and is granted only to those individuals who have
achieved outstanding distinction in each of the
areas of scholarly research, teaching, service to the
University and the community-at-large. An integral
component to be expected of such distinguished
performance is a breadth of scholarly interest and
achievement that extends beyond the normal
departmental and arbitrary disciplinary boundaries.
Thus, the University Professor is a member of the
staff whose scholarly works merit, or have merited,
national or international attention; whose teaching
ability is widely known and respected by colleagues
and students alike as exceptional; and who has
earned from the community a regard which favours
both the individual and the University.
Any individual appointed to a full-time aca-
demic position without term at the University may
be appointed a University Professor. Any member
or members of the academic staff of the University
may nominate a candidate with the candidate=s
permission.
Formal nominations, including supporting
documents, should be submitted to Carl Amrhein,
Provost and Vice-President (Academic), 2-10
University Hall, by 4:30 p.m., Monday, April 3, 2006.
Detailed criteria for nominations may be
obtained from the Office of the Provost and Vice-
President (Academic), telephone 492-2280.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: CENTENARY 2008
With planning now underway for the
University of Alberta’s centenary celebrations in
2008, the campus community is invited to submit
proposals for funding consideration for centenary
celebration initiatives. Application deadline is
March 31, 2006. Please note: initiatives must take
place between Jan. 1, 2008 - Dec. 31, 2008.
For guidelines and application form please go
to: http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/2008/callfor-
proposals.cfm
or contact centenary project administrator
“ WOrk
Vanessa Hughes at 492-9416 or vanessa.hughes@
exr.ualberta.ca.
SCOTIABANK-AUCC AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN
INTERNATIONALIZATION
University of Alberta International (UAI) would
like to encourage University of Alberta applica-
tions for the 2006 Scotiabank-AUCC Awards for
Excellence in Internationalization. This prestigious
awards program honours excellent initiatives
Canadian universities have put in place to integrate
an international dimension into teaching, research
and community service.
This year’s program will focus on initiatives
that prepare students for a global future, with
up to four initiatives selected to receive awards.
Recipients will be celebrated at a national ceremo-
ny held in conjunction with AUCC’s biannual meet-
ing in October 2006, in a fall 2006 issue of AUCC’s
news magazine University Affairs, and at a national
workshop on preparing students for a global future
open to senior university administrators from
across the country in spring 2007.
The application deadline for the awards pro-
gram is April 21, 2006, but applicants must contact
UAI by April 12, 2006 to coordinate required institu-
tional signatures prior to submission. Competition
details can be found in the program guidelines
on the AUCC web site at www.aucc.ca/programs/
index_e.html. Further questions regarding U of A
submissions can be directed to Juli Betke at 492-
2958 or juli.betke@ualberta.ca
EDMONTON CONSULAR BALL SCHOLARSHIP FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
The Edmonton Consular Ball Scholarship in
International Studies was established in 1980 with
funds generated by the Edmonton Consular Ball,
which was held to mark the 75th anniversary of
the province of Alberta. In each of the succeeding
years, the Consular Corps contributed proceeds
from the annual ball to the university for the schol-
arship. The value of this scholarship is $1,000 plus
travel expenses of $1,000-$1,500. For more infor-
mation, e-mail ConsularBall@international.ualberta.
ca, or phone 780-492-5840. Application deadline is
March 27, 2006.
Display advertisements:
Camera-ready artwork is required to size, complete with
halftones if necessary. Call 417-3464 for sizes, rates and
other particulars.
The world is waiting for you.
What are you waiting for?
Take a Gap Year Abroad! Experience the world.
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options and specialized programs for over 35 years.
- work in a cafe in Australia
- volunteer to build a school in Costa Rica
+ teach English in Thailand
- learn to speak Spanish in
Senate Travel
HUB Mall, U of A
492-2756
SERVICES
SENATE TRAVEL
Travel CUTS is owned & operated by the Canadian Federation of Students. SWAP isa vuge ¥ TRAVEL x
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>between
COVeEIS
Annual awards reveal what makes books tick
By Richard Cairne
y° pick up a coffee-table book about
a seemingly mundane subject:
Dukhobor furniture. And you can’t put it
down - it’s strangely riveting. The photo-
graphs are stunning and the text reveals
fascinating cultural influences behind the
furniture’s designs. Who knew you were
so interested in Dukhobor furniture?
Chances are you weren't, but the
book’s design was inviting enough that
you were drawn in, invited to thumb
through the pages to gaze at the photos,
to read the captions and then an entire
chapter.
The book in question is the University
of Alberta Press’ Folk Furniture of Canada’s
Dukhobors, Hutterites, Mennonites and
Ukrainians, one of many Alcuin Award
winners on display at the FAB Gallery
until March 18. Designed by U of A Press
designer Alan Brownoff, Folk Furniture
was awarded first place in the pictorial
category.
Sue Colberg, a professor and co-ordinator
of communication design in the Department
of Art and Design served as one of three
Alcuin Society judges. Brownoff, she says,
A Design by Elisa Gutierrez of Norm
Hacky’s story When Cats go Wrong
(illustration by Cynthia Nugent) took
second in the Children’s category.
> Hell's Comer - An illustrated History of
Canada’s Great Wars looks at design
while being judged favourably for its
own design, taking first place in the
nonfiction illustrated category.
did an excellent job in designing the book,
previously featured in Folio.
“He created an environment for those
photos that lets the furniture come to the
fore,” she said. “It is designed in an under-
stated way . . . the typography and layout
is quiet and humble — I want to say it’s like
the furniture itself.”
Yet readers won’t be putting the book
down to discuss its design elements.
“Tf a design is extremely well done you
will notice the subject matter and not the
book design,” Colberg said.
Colberg and fellow judges Val Speidel,
a Vancouver book designer, and Andrew
Steeves, co-owner, senior editor and
typographer with Gaspereau Press, spent
one “very, very, very long day” review-
ing entries into the annual national book
design competition. The Alcuin Society
aims to promote a wider appreciation
of book design and production, and is
named after Alcuin of York. He served as
Charlemagne’s minister of culture, worked
to preserve ancient texts and contributed
to the development of the lower-case
alphabet. @
canada’s war Cots for food and
oy Treasury, said Finance
pryland but alee int Canada,
esl + tn a short will, That mig
oes by late ota had started
> Author/illustrator Rudolf Kurz
earned honourable mention
in the pictorial category for
Looking for Snails on a Sunday
Afternoon: Thirty-six Etchings
and Three Stories.
the
V Folk Furniture of Canada’s Dukhobors, Hutterites, Mennonites and Ukrainians
earned top honours from the Alcuin Society in the pictorial category.
of Canada’s Doukhobors,
Hutterites, Mennonites
and Ukrainians
JOHN FLEMING & MICHAEL ROWAN
A Journey to the Ice Age delivers
its content in a clean style.
> Detail from a Stephane Jorisch
illustration in the Lewis Carrol
classic Jaberwocky.
eine
Aause) paeyriy :s0}04g
Live Music
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9/11